math help

What is 64/16 + 2/12?

What is 64/16 + 2/12?

This is how we add

64
16
+
2
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 64 by 12, and get 768, then we multiply 16 by 12 and get 192.

64/16 times 12

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 2 by 16, and get 32, then multiply 16 by 12 and get 192.

2/12 times 16

The problem now has new fractions to add:

768
192
+
32
192

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

768 + 32 = 800

The sum we get is

800
192

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:

800
192
÷ 2 =
400
96

Now, try the same number again.

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

400
96
÷ 2 =
200
48

Now, try the same number again.

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

200
48
÷ 2 =
100
24

Now, try the same number again.

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

100
24
÷ 2 =
50
12

Now, try the same number again.

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

50
12
÷ 2 =
25
6

Now, try the same number again.

Nope. Try the next prime number, 3...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 5...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 7...

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

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 64/16 + 2/12

64
16
+
2
12
=
25
6
© 2014 Randy Tayler