math help

What is 96/2 + 2/6?

What is 96/2 + 2/6?

Let's add

96
2
+
2
6

Step 1

Our denominators (bottom numbers) don't match, so we can't add yet.

Since 2 is evenly divided by 6, we can multiply just one term to get a common denominator.

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

96/2 times 3

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

This yields the answer

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

Now, try the same number again.

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

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

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

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 96/2 + 2/6

96
2
+
2
6
=
145
3
© 2014 Randy Tayler