math help

What is 80/2 + 8/12?

What is 80/2 + 8/12?

Here's how we add

80
2
+
8
12

Step 1

Now we need to make our denominators match.

Since 2 is evenly divided by 12, we can multiply just one term to get a common denominator.

Multiply 80 by 6, and get 480, then we multiply 2 by 6 and get 12.

80/2 times 6

The problem now has new fractions to add:

480
12
+
8
12

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

480 + 8 = 488

The sum we get is

488
12

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:

488
12
÷ 2 =
244
6

Let's try dividing by that again...

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

244
6
÷ 2 =
122
3

Let's try dividing by that again...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 3...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 5...

No good. 5 is larger than 3. So we're done reducing.

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 80/2 + 8/12

80
2
+
8
12
=
122
3
© 2014 Randy Tayler