math help

What is 48/30 + 4/12?

What is 48/30 + 4/12?

This is how we add

48
30
+
4
12

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 48 by 12, and get 576, then we multiply 30 by 12 and get 360.

48/30 times 12

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 4 by 30, and get 120, then multiply 30 by 12 and get 360.

4/12 times 30

The problem now has new fractions to add:

576
360
+
120
360

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

576 + 120 = 696

The sum we get is

696
360

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:

696
360
÷ 2 =
348
180

Now, try the same number again.

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

348
180
÷ 2 =
174
90

Now, try the same number again.

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

174
90
÷ 2 =
87
45

Now, try the same number again.

Nope. Try the next prime number, 3...

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 3? Yes! So we reduce it:

87
45
÷ 3 =
29
15

Now, try the same number again.

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...

No good. 17 is larger than 15. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 48/30 + 4/12

48
30
+
4
12
=
29
15
© 2014 Randy Tayler