math help

What is 3/24 + 5/6?

What is 3/24 + 5/6?

This is how we add

3
24
+
5
6

Step 1

We have to make sure the denominators are equal.

Since 6 is evenly divided by 24, we can multiply just one term to get a common denominator.

Multiply 5 by 4, and get 20, then we multiply 6 by 4 and get 24.

5/6 times 4

The problem now has new fractions to add:

3
24
+
20
24

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

3 + 20 = 23

The sum we get is

23
24

Step 3

The 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...

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. So next you try the next prime number, which is 23...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 29...

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

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 3/24 + 5/6

3
24
+
5
6
=
23
24
© 2014 Randy Tayler