math help

What is 10/3 + 1/8?

What is 10/3 + 1/8?

Let's add

10
3
+
1
8

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 10 by 8, and get 80, then we multiply 3 by 8 and get 24.

10/3 times 8

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 1 by 3, and get 3, then multiply 3 by 8 and get 24.

1/8 times 3

The problem now has new fractions to add:

80
24
+
3
24

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

80 + 3 = 83

The sum we get is

83
24

Step 3

The last step is to reduce the fraction if we can.

To find out, we try dividing it by 2...

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...

No good. 29 is larger than 24. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 10/3 + 1/8

10
3
+
1
8
=
83
24
© 2014 Randy Tayler