math help

What is 60/48 + 2/4?

What is 60/48 + 2/4?

This is how you add

60
48
+
2
4

Step 1

Now we need to make our denominators match.

Since 4 is evenly divided by 48, we can multiply just one term to get a common denominator.

Multiply 2 by 12, and get 24, then we multiply 4 by 12 and get 48.

2/4 times 12

The problem now has new fractions to add:

60
48
+
24
48

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

60 + 24 = 84

This yields the answer

84
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:

84
48
÷ 2 =
42
24

Let's try dividing by that again...

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

42
24
÷ 2 =
21
12

Let's try dividing by that again...

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

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 3? Yes! So we reduce it:

21
12
÷ 3 =
7
4

Let's try dividing by that again...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 5...

No good. 5 is larger than 4. So we're done reducing.

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 60/48 + 2/4

60
48
+
2
4
=
7
4
© 2014 Randy Tayler