math help

What is 100/50 + 8/9?

What is 100/50 + 8/9?

This is how to add

100
50
+
8
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 50 by 9 and get 450.

100/50 times 9

Now for the second term. You multiply 8 by 50, and get 400, then multiply 50 by 9 and get 450.

8/9 times 50

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

900
450
+
400
450

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

900 + 400 = 1300

That gives us the sum, which is

1300
450

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:

1300
450
÷ 2 =
650
225

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:

650
225
÷ 5 =
130
45

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:

130
45
÷ 5 =
26
9

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 7...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 11...

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

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 100/50 + 8/9

100
50
+
8
9
=
26
9
© 2014 Randy Tayler