What is 3/12 + 2/9?
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Here's how you add
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Step 1Of 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 3 by 9, and get 27, then we multiply 12 by 9 and get 108. Do the same for the second term. We multiply 2 by 12, and get 24, then multiply 12 by 9 and get 108. The problem now has new fractions to add:
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Step 2Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators. 27 + 24 = 51 This yields the answer
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Step 3The last step is to reduce the fraction if we can. To find out, we try dividing it by 2... No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 3... Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 3? Yes! So we reduce it:
So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again. No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 5... No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 7... No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 11... No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 13... No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 17... No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 19... No good. 19 is larger than 17. So we're done reducing. And we're done! Here's the final answer to 3/12 + 2/9
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