What is 5/10 + 11/12?
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This is how we add
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Step 1Of 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 5 by 12, and get 60, then we multiply 10 by 12 and get 120. Do the same for the second term. We multiply 11 by 10, and get 110, then multiply 10 by 12 and get 120. The problem now has new fractions to add:
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Step 2Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators. 60 + 110 = 170 The sum we get is
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Step 3The 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:
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... Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 5? Yes! So we reduce it:
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 7... No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 11... No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 13... No good. 13 is larger than 12. So we're done reducing. And we're done! Here's the final answer to 5/10 + 11/12
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