math help

What is 100/24 + 1/5?

What is 100/24 + 1/5?

Here's how we add

100
24
+
1
5

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 5, and get 500, then we multiply 24 by 5 and get 120.

100/24 times 5

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 1 by 24, and get 24, then multiply 24 by 5 and get 120.

1/5 times 24

The problem now has new fractions to add:

500
120
+
24
120

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

500 + 24 = 524

This yields the answer

524
120

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:

524
120
÷ 2 =
262
60

Now, try the same number again.

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

262
60
÷ 2 =
131
30

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...

No good. 31 is larger than 30. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 100/24 + 1/5

100
24
+
1
5
=
131
30
© 2014 Randy Tayler