math help

What is 100/100 + 5/9?

What is 100/100 + 5/9?

Here's how we add

100
100
+
5
9

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 100 by 9, and get 900, then we multiply 100 by 9 and get 900.

100/100 times 9

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 5 by 100, and get 500, then multiply 100 by 9 and get 900.

5/9 times 100

The problem now has new fractions to add:

900
900
+
500
900

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

900 + 500 = 1400

The sum we get is

1400
900

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:

1400
900
÷ 2 =
700
450

Now, try the same number again.

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

700
450
÷ 2 =
350
225

Now, try the same number again.

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

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

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 5? Yes! So we reduce it:

350
225
÷ 5 =
70
45

Now, try the same number again.

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 5? Yes! So we reduce it:

70
45
÷ 5 =
14
9

Now, try the same number again.

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

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

No good. 11 is larger than 9. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 100/100 + 5/9

100
100
+
5
9
=
14
9
© 2014 Randy Tayler