math help

What is 3/4 + 4/8?

What is 3/4 + 4/8?

Here's how you add

3
4
+
4
8

Step 1

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

8 goes into 4 evenly, so we only need to multiply one term to get a common denominator.

Multiply 3 by 2, and get 6, then we multiply 4 by 2 and get 8.

3/4 times 2

We now have a new problem, that looks like this:

6
8
+
4
8

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

6 + 4 = 10

Answer:

10
8

Step 3

Now, do we need to simplify this fraction?

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

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

10
8
÷ 2 =
5
4

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 4. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 3/4 + 4/8

3
4
+
4
8
=
5
4
© 2014 Randy Tayler