math help

What is 9/32 + 1/12?

What is 9/32 + 1/12?

Here's how you add

9
32
+
1
12

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 9 by 12, and get 108, then we multiply 32 by 12 and get 384.

9/32 times 12

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 1 by 32, and get 32, then multiply 32 by 12 and get 384.

1/12 times 32

The problem now has new fractions to add:

108
384
+
32
384

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

108 + 32 = 140

The sum we get is

140
384

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:

140
384
÷ 2 =
70
192

Let's try dividing by that again...

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

70
192
÷ 2 =
35
96

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...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 7...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 11...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 13...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 17...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 19...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 23...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 29...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 31...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 37...

No good. 37 is larger than 35. So we're done reducing.

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 9/32 + 1/12

9
32
+
1
12
=
35
96
© 2014 Randy Tayler