math help

What is 20/64 + 2/4?

What is 20/64 + 2/4?

This is how to add

20
64
+
2
4

Step 1

Now we need to make our denominators match.

Since 4 is evenly divided by 64, we can multiply just one term to get a common denominator.

Multiply 2 by 16, and get 32, then we multiply 4 by 16 and get 64.

2/4 times 16

The problem now has new fractions to add:

20
64
+
32
64

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

20 + 32 = 52

This yields the answer

52
64

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:

52
64
÷ 2 =
26
32

Let's try dividing by that again...

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

26
32
÷ 2 =
13
16

Let's try dividing by that again...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 3...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 5...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 7...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 11...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 13...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 17...

No good. 17 is larger than 13. So we're done reducing.

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 20/64 + 2/4

20
64
+
2
4
=
13
16
© 2014 Randy Tayler