math help

What is 2/8 + 5/12?

What is 2/8 + 5/12?

This is how to add

2
8
+
5
12

Step 1

Can you add yet? Nope! The denominators don't match. We need a common denominator. So next we take both denominators and multiply them. Next, take each numerator and multiply it by the denominator of the other term.

So, we multiply 2 by 12, and get 24, then we multiply 8 by 12 and get 96.

2/8 times 12

Now for the second term. You multiply 5 by 8, and get 40, then multiply 8 by 12 and get 96.

5/12 times 8

We now have a new problem, that looks like this:

24
96
+
40
96

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

24 + 40 = 64

Answer:

64
96

Step 3

Now, do we need to simplify this fraction?

First, we attempt to divide it by 2...

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

64
96
÷ 2 =
32
48

Let's try dividing by that again...

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

32
48
÷ 2 =
16
24

Let's try dividing by that again...

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

16
24
÷ 2 =
8
12

Let's try dividing by that again...

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

8
12
÷ 2 =
4
6

Let's try dividing by that again...

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

4
6
÷ 2 =
2
3

Let's try dividing by that again...

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

No good. 3 is larger than 2. So we're done reducing.

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 2/8 + 5/12

2
8
+
5
12
=
2
3
© 2014 Randy Tayler