math help

What is 50/8 + 8/12?

What is 50/8 + 8/12?

Let's add

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

50/8 times 12

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 8 by 8, and get 64, then multiply 8 by 12 and get 96.

8/12 times 8

The problem now has new fractions to add:

600
96
+
64
96

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

600 + 64 = 664

The sum we get is

664
96

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:

664
96
÷ 2 =
332
48

Let's try dividing by that again...

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

332
48
÷ 2 =
166
24

Let's try dividing by that again...

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

166
24
÷ 2 =
83
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 + 8/12

50
8
+
8
12
=
83
12
© 2014 Randy Tayler