math help

What is 9/32 + 5/12?

What is 9/32 + 5/12?

This is how you add

9
32
+
5
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 5 by 32, and get 160, then multiply 32 by 12 and get 384.

5/12 times 32

The problem now has new fractions to add:

108
384
+
160
384

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

108 + 160 = 268

This yields the answer

268
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:

268
384
÷ 2 =
134
192

Now, try the same number again.

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

134
192
÷ 2 =
67
96

Now, try the same number again.

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

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

Nope. Try the next prime number, 7...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 11...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 13...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 17...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 19...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 23...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 29...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 31...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 37...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 41...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 43...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 47...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 53...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 59...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 61...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 67...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 71...

No good. 71 is larger than 67. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 9/32 + 5/12

9
32
+
5
12
=
67
96
© 2014 Randy Tayler