math help

What is 96/2 + 1/3?

What is 96/2 + 1/3?

Here's how we add

96
2
+
1
3

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 96 by 3, and get 288, then we multiply 2 by 3 and get 6.

96/2 times 3

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 1 by 2, and get 2, then multiply 2 by 3 and get 6.

1/3 times 2

The problem now has new fractions to add:

288
6
+
2
6

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

288 + 2 = 290

The sum we get is

290
6

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:

290
6
÷ 2 =
145
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 96/2 + 1/3

96
2
+
1
3
=
145
3
© 2014 Randy Tayler