What is 31/12 + 7/8?

This is how you add

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 8, and get 248, then we multiply 12 by 8 and get 96.

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 7 by 12, and get 84, then multiply 12 by 8 and get 96.

The problem now has new fractions to add:

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

248 + 84 = 332

This yields the answer

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:

Now, try the same number again.

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

Now, try the same number again.

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...

No good. 29 is larger than 24. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 31/12 + 7/8