math help

What is 6/88 + 1/12?

What is 6/88 + 1/12?

This is how you add

6
88
+
1
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 6 by 12, and get 72, then we multiply 88 by 12 and get 1056.

6/88 times 12

Now for the second term. You multiply 1 by 88, and get 88, then multiply 88 by 12 and get 1056.

1/12 times 88

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

72
1056
+
88
1056

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

72 + 88 = 160

Answer:

160
1056

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:

160
1056
÷ 2 =
80
528

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

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

80
528
÷ 2 =
40
264

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

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

40
264
÷ 2 =
20
132

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

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

20
132
÷ 2 =
10
66

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

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

10
66
÷ 2 =
5
33

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...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 7...

No good. 7 is larger than 5. So we're done reducing.

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 6/88 + 1/12

6
88
+
1
12
=
5
33
© 2014 Randy Tayler