math help

What is 49/9 + 5/12?

What is 49/9 + 5/12?

Here's how you add

49
9
+
5
12

Step 1

Can you add yet? Nope! The denominators don't match. We need a common denominator. So next we take both denominators and multiply them. Next, take each numerator and multiply it by the denominator of the other term.

So, we multiply 49 by 12, and get 588, then we multiply 9 by 12 and get 108.

49/9 times 12

Now for the second term. You multiply 5 by 9, and get 45, then multiply 9 by 12 and get 108.

5/12 times 9

We now have a new problem, that looks like this:

588
108
+
45
108

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

588 + 45 = 633

Answer:

633
108

Step 3

Now, do we need to simplify this fraction?

First, we attempt to divide it by 2...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 3...

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

633
108
÷ 3 =
211
36

Let's try dividing by that again...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 5...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 7...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 11...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 13...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 17...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 19...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 23...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 29...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 31...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 37...

No good. 37 is larger than 36. So we're done reducing.

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 49/9 + 5/12

49
9
+
5
12
=
211
36
© 2014 Randy Tayler