math help

What is 7/5 + 7/12?

What is 7/5 + 7/12?

This is how we add

7
5
+
7
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 7 by 12, and get 84, then we multiply 5 by 12 and get 60.

7/5 times 12

Now for the second term. You multiply 7 by 5, and get 35, then multiply 5 by 12 and get 60.

7/12 times 5

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

84
60
+
35
60

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

84 + 35 = 119

That gives us the sum, which is

119
60

Step 3

Now, do we need to simplify this fraction?

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

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

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

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

Nope. Try the next prime number, 11...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 13...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 17...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 19...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 23...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 29...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 31...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 37...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 41...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 43...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 47...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 53...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 59...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 61...

No good. 61 is larger than 60. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 7/5 + 7/12

7
5
+
7
12
=
119
60
© 2014 Randy Tayler