math help

What is 31/12 + 1/10?

What is 31/12 + 1/10?

Here's how you add

31
12
+
1
10

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 31 by 10, and get 310, then we multiply 12 by 10 and get 120.

31/12 times 10

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 1 by 12, and get 12, then multiply 12 by 10 and get 120.

1/10 times 12

The problem now has new fractions to add:

310
120
+
12
120

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

310 + 12 = 322

The sum we get is

322
120

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:

322
120
÷ 2 =
161
60

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...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 13...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 17...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 19...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 23...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 29...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 31...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 37...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 41...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 43...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 47...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 53...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 59...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 61...

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

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 31/12 + 1/10

31
12
+
1
10
=
161
60
© 2014 Randy Tayler