math help

What is 13/16 + 2/3?

What is 13/16 + 2/3?

This is how to add

13
16
+
2
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 13 by 3, and get 39, then we multiply 16 by 3 and get 48.

13/16 times 3

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 2 by 16, and get 32, then multiply 16 by 3 and get 48.

2/3 times 16

The problem now has new fractions to add:

39
48
+
32
48

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

39 + 32 = 71

This yields the answer

71
48

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...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 31...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 37...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 41...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 43...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 47...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 53...

No good. 53 is larger than 48. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 13/16 + 2/3

13
16
+
2
3
=
71
48
© 2014 Randy Tayler