math help

What is 48/30 + 8/12?

What is 48/30 + 8/12?

Here's how to add

48
30
+
8
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 8 by 30, and get 240, then multiply 30 by 12 and get 360.

8/12 times 30

The problem now has new fractions to add:

576
360
+
240
360

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

576 + 240 = 816

This yields the answer

816
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:

816
360
÷ 2 =
408
180

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

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

408
180
÷ 2 =
204
90

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

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

204
90
÷ 2 =
102
45

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...

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

102
45
÷ 3 =
34
15

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. 17 is larger than 15. So we're done reducing.

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 48/30 + 8/12

48
30
+
8
12
=
34
15
© 2014 Randy Tayler