math help

What is 6/7 + 5/12?

What is 6/7 + 5/12?

This is how you add

6
7
+
5
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 6 by 12, and get 72, then we multiply 7 by 12 and get 84.

6/7 times 12

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 5 by 7, and get 35, then multiply 7 by 12 and get 84.

5/12 times 7

The problem now has new fractions to add:

72
84
+
35
84

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

72 + 35 = 107

The sum we get is

107
84

Step 3

The last step is to reduce the fraction if we can.

To find out, we try dividing it by 2...

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...

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...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 41...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 43...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 47...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 53...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 59...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 61...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 67...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 71...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 73...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 79...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 83...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 89...

No good. 89 is larger than 84. So we're done reducing.

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 6/7 + 5/12

6
7
+
5
12
=
107
84
© 2014 Randy Tayler