math help

What is 96/2 + 8/12?

What is 96/2 + 8/12?

This is how to add

96
2
+
8
12

Step 1

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

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

Multiply 96 by 6, and get 576, then we multiply 2 by 6 and get 12.

96/2 times 6

The problem now has new fractions to add:

576
12
+
8
12

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

576 + 8 = 584

The sum we get is

584
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:

584
12
÷ 2 =
292
6

Now, try the same number again.

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

292
6
÷ 2 =
146
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 + 8/12

96
2
+
8
12
=
146
3
© 2014 Randy Tayler