math help

What is 45/3 + 2/12?

What is 45/3 + 2/12?

This is how to add

45
3
+
2
12

Step 1

We have to make sure the denominators are equal.

Since 3 is evenly divided by 12, we can multiply just one term to get a common denominator.

Multiply 45 by 4, and get 180, then we multiply 3 by 4 and get 12.

45/3 times 4

The problem now has new fractions to add:

180
12
+
2
12

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

180 + 2 = 182

The sum we get is

182
12

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:

182
12
÷ 2 =
91
6

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 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. 7 is larger than 6. So we're done reducing.

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 45/3 + 2/12

45
3
+
2
12
=
91
6
© 2014 Randy Tayler