math help

What is 30/50 + 2/12?

What is 30/50 + 2/12?

This is how we add

30
50
+
2
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 30 by 12, and get 360, then we multiply 50 by 12 and get 600.

30/50 times 12

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 2 by 50, and get 100, then multiply 50 by 12 and get 600.

2/12 times 50

The problem now has new fractions to add:

360
600
+
100
600

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

360 + 100 = 460

The sum we get is

460
600

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:

460
600
÷ 2 =
230
300

Now, try the same number again.

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

230
300
÷ 2 =
115
150

Now, try the same number again.

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

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

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 5? Yes! So we reduce it:

115
150
÷ 5 =
23
30

Now, try the same number again.

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...

No good. 29 is larger than 23. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 30/50 + 2/12

30
50
+
2
12
=
23
30
© 2014 Randy Tayler