math help

What is 9/48 + 4/12?

What is 9/48 + 4/12?

This is how we add

9
48
+
4
12

Step 1

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

48 goes into 12 evenly, so we only need to multiply one term to get a common denominator.

Multiply 4 by 4, and get 16, then we multiply 12 by 4 and get 48.

4/12 times 4

This gives us a new problem that looks like so:

9
48
+
16
48

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

9 + 16 = 25

That gives us an answer of

25
48

Step 3

Can this fraction be reduced?

First, we attempt to divide it by 2...

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...

No good. 29 is larger than 25. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 9/48 + 4/12

9
48
+
4
12
=
25
48
© 2014 Randy Tayler