math help

What is 4/3 + 6/12?

What is 4/3 + 6/12?

Here's how we add

4
3
+
6
12

Step 1

Our denominators (bottom numbers) don't match, so we can't add yet.

12 goes into 3 evenly, so we only need to multiply one term to get a common denominator.

Multiply 4 by 4, and get 16, then we multiply 3 by 4 and get 12.

4/3 times 4

This gives us a new problem that looks like so:

16
12
+
6
12

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

16 + 6 = 22

That gives us an answer of

22
12

Step 3

Can this fraction be reduced?

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

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

22
12
÷ 2 =
11
6

Now, try the same number again.

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

Nope. Try the next prime number, 5...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 7...

No good. 7 is larger than 6. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 4/3 + 6/12

4
3
+
6
12
=
11
6
© 2014 Randy Tayler