math help

What is 25/36 + 5/12?

What is 25/36 + 5/12?

Let's add

25
36
+
5
12

Step 1

Now we need to make our denominators match.

Since 12 is evenly divided by 36, we can multiply just one term to get a common denominator.

Multiply 5 by 3, and get 15, then we multiply 12 by 3 and get 36.

5/12 times 3

The problem now has new fractions to add:

25
36
+
15
36

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

25 + 15 = 40

The sum we get is

40
36

Step 3

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

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

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 2? Yes! So we reduce it:

40
36
÷ 2 =
20
18

Let's try dividing by that again...

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 2? Yes! So we reduce it:

20
18
÷ 2 =
10
9

Let's try dividing by that again...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 3...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 5...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 7...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 11...

No good. 11 is larger than 10. So we're done reducing.

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 25/36 + 5/12

25
36
+
5
12
=
10
9
© 2014 Randy Tayler