math help

What is 51/1 + 2/12?

What is 51/1 + 2/12?

This is how we add

51
1
+
2
12

Step 1

Now we need to make our denominators match.

Since 1 is evenly divided by 12, we can multiply just one term to get a common denominator.

Multiply 51 by 12, and get 612, then we multiply 1 by 12 and get 12.

51/1 times 12

The problem now has new fractions to add:

612
12
+
2
12

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

612 + 2 = 614

This yields the answer

614
12

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:

614
12
÷ 2 =
307
6

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...

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

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 51/1 + 2/12

51
1
+
2
12
=
307
6
© 2014 Randy Tayler