math help

What is 10/6 + 8/10?

What is 10/6 + 8/10?

This is how to add

10
6
+
8
10

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 10, and get 100, then we multiply 6 by 10 and get 60.

10/6 times 10

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 8 by 6, and get 48, then multiply 6 by 10 and get 60.

8/10 times 6

The problem now has new fractions to add:

100
60
+
48
60

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

100 + 48 = 148

This yields the answer

148
60

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:

148
60
÷ 2 =
74
30

Now, try the same number again.

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

74
30
÷ 2 =
37
15

Now, try the same number again.

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...

No good. 17 is larger than 15. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 10/6 + 8/10

10
6
+
8
10
=
37
15
© 2014 Randy Tayler