math help

What is 50/8 + 2/6?

What is 50/8 + 2/6?

This is how we add

50
8
+
2
6

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 50 by 6, and get 300, then we multiply 8 by 6 and get 48.

50/8 times 6

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 2 by 8, and get 16, then multiply 8 by 6 and get 48.

2/6 times 8

The problem now has new fractions to add:

300
48
+
16
48

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

300 + 16 = 316

This yields the answer

316
48

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:

316
48
÷ 2 =
158
24

Let's try dividing by that again...

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

158
24
÷ 2 =
79
12

Let's try dividing by that again...

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

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...

No good. 13 is larger than 12. So we're done reducing.

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 50/8 + 2/6

50
8
+
2
6
=
79
12
© 2014 Randy Tayler