math help

What is 34/3 + 2/4?

What is 34/3 + 2/4?

Let's add

34
3
+
2
4

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 34 by 4, and get 136, then we multiply 3 by 4 and get 12.

34/3 times 4

Now for the second term. You multiply 2 by 3, and get 6, then multiply 3 by 4 and get 12.

2/4 times 3

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

136
12
+
6
12

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

136 + 6 = 142

Answer:

142
12

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:

142
12
÷ 2 =
71
6

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...

No good. 7 is larger than 6. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 34/3 + 2/4

34
3
+
2
4
=
71
6
© 2014 Randy Tayler