math help

What is 100/50 + 1/3?

What is 100/50 + 1/3?

Here's how to add

100
50
+
1
3

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 3, and get 300, then we multiply 50 by 3 and get 150.

100/50 times 3

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 1 by 50, and get 50, then multiply 50 by 3 and get 150.

1/3 times 50

The problem now has new fractions to add:

300
150
+
50
150

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

300 + 50 = 350

This yields the answer

350
150

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:

350
150
÷ 2 =
175
75

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:

175
75
÷ 5 =
35
15

Now, try the same number again.

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

35
15
÷ 5 =
7
3

Now, try the same number again.

No good. 5 is larger than 3. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 100/50 + 1/3

100
50
+
1
3
=
7
3
© 2014 Randy Tayler