math help

What is 24/5 + 5/12?

What is 24/5 + 5/12?

Here's how we add

24
5
+
5
12

Step 1

Of course, you can't add two fractions if the denominators (bottom numbers) don't match. To get a common denominator, multiply the denominators together. Then we fix the numerators by multiplying each one by their other term's denominator.

Now you multiply 24 by 12, and get 288, then we multiply 5 by 12 and get 60.

24/5 times 12

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 5 by 5, and get 25, then multiply 5 by 12 and get 60.

5/12 times 5

The problem now has new fractions to add:

288
60
+
25
60

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

288 + 25 = 313

The sum we get is

313
60

Step 3

The last step is to reduce the fraction if we can.

To find out, we try dividing it by 2...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 3...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 5...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 7...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 11...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 13...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 17...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 19...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 23...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 29...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 31...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 37...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 41...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 43...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 47...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 53...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 59...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 61...

No good. 61 is larger than 60. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 24/5 + 5/12

24
5
+
5
12
=
313
60
© 2014 Randy Tayler