math help

What is 64/17 + 6/12?

What is 64/17 + 6/12?

Let's add

64
17
+
6
12

Step 1

Can you add yet? Nope! The denominators don't match. We need a common denominator. So next we take both denominators and multiply them. Next, take each numerator and multiply it by the denominator of the other term.

So, we multiply 64 by 12, and get 768, then we multiply 17 by 12 and get 204.

64/17 times 12

Now for the second term. You multiply 6 by 17, and get 102, then multiply 17 by 12 and get 204.

6/12 times 17

We now have a new problem, that looks like this:

768
204
+
102
204

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

768 + 102 = 870

Answer:

870
204

Step 3

Now, do we need to simplify this fraction?

First, we attempt to divide it by 2...

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

870
204
÷ 2 =
435
102

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:

435
102
÷ 3 =
145
34

Let's try dividing by that again...

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...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 17...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 19...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 23...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 29...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 31...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 37...

No good. 37 is larger than 34. So we're done reducing.

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 64/17 + 6/12

64
17
+
6
12
=
145
34
© 2014 Randy Tayler