math help

What is 100/50 + 1/4?

What is 100/50 + 1/4?

Let's add

100
50
+
1
4

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 4, and get 400, then we multiply 50 by 4 and get 200.

100/50 times 4

Now for the second term. You multiply 1 by 50, and get 50, then multiply 50 by 4 and get 200.

1/4 times 50

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

400
200
+
50
200

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

400 + 50 = 450

Answer:

450
200

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:

450
200
÷ 2 =
225
100

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 3...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 5...

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

225
100
÷ 5 =
45
20

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

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

45
20
÷ 5 =
9
4

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

No good. 5 is larger than 4. So we're done reducing.

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 100/50 + 1/4

100
50
+
1
4
=
9
4
© 2014 Randy Tayler