math help

What is 100/24 + 2/9?

What is 100/24 + 2/9?

This is how you add

100
24
+
2
9

Step 1

Can you add yet? Nope! The denominators don't match. We need a common denominator. So next we take both denominators and multiply them. Next, take each numerator and multiply it by the denominator of the other term.

So, we multiply 100 by 9, and get 900, then we multiply 24 by 9 and get 216.

100/24 times 9

Now for the second term. You multiply 2 by 24, and get 48, then multiply 24 by 9 and get 216.

2/9 times 24

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

900
216
+
48
216

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

900 + 48 = 948

That gives us the sum, which is

948
216

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:

948
216
÷ 2 =
474
108

Let's try dividing by that again...

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

474
108
÷ 2 =
237
54

Let's try dividing by that again...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 3...

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 3? Yes! So we reduce it:

237
54
÷ 3 =
79
18

Let's try dividing by that again...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 5...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 7...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 11...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 13...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 17...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 19...

No good. 19 is larger than 18. So we're done reducing.

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 100/24 + 2/9

100
24
+
2
9
=
79
18
© 2014 Randy Tayler