math help

What is 21/63 + 8/10?

What is 21/63 + 8/10?

Here's how we add

21
63
+
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 21 by 10, and get 210, then we multiply 63 by 10 and get 630.

21/63 times 10

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 8 by 63, and get 504, then multiply 63 by 10 and get 630.

8/10 times 63

The problem now has new fractions to add:

210
630
+
504
630

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

210 + 504 = 714

The sum we get is

714
630

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:

714
630
÷ 2 =
357
315

Let's try dividing by that again...

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

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 3? Yes! So we reduce it:

357
315
÷ 3 =
119
105

Let's try dividing by that again...

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

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

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 7? Yes! So we reduce it:

119
105
÷ 7 =
17
15

Let's try dividing by that again...

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 15. So we're done reducing.

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 21/63 + 8/10

21
63
+
8
10
=
17
15
© 2014 Randy Tayler