math help

What is 50/8 + 1/12?

What is 50/8 + 1/12?

Let's add

50
8
+
1
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 50 by 12, and get 600, then we multiply 8 by 12 and get 96.

50/8 times 12

Now for the second term. You multiply 1 by 8, and get 8, then multiply 8 by 12 and get 96.

1/12 times 8

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

600
96
+
8
96

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

600 + 8 = 608

That gives us the sum, which is

608
96

Step 3

Now, do we need to simplify this fraction?

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

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

608
96
÷ 2 =
304
48

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:

304
48
÷ 2 =
152
24

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:

152
24
÷ 2 =
76
12

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:

76
12
÷ 2 =
38
6

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:

38
6
÷ 2 =
19
3

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. 5 is larger than 3. So we're done reducing.

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 50/8 + 1/12

50
8
+
1
12
=
19
3
© 2014 Randy Tayler