math help

What is 21/63 + 9/10?

What is 21/63 + 9/10?

Here's how you add

21
63
+
9
10

Step 1

Can you add yet? Nope! The denominators don't match. We need a common denominator. So next we take both denominators and multiply them. Next, take each numerator and multiply it by the denominator of the other term.

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

21/63 times 10

Now for the second term. You multiply 9 by 63, and get 567, then multiply 63 by 10 and get 630.

9/10 times 63

We now have a new problem, that looks like this:

210
630
+
567
630

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

210 + 567 = 777

That gives us the sum, which is

777
630

Step 3

Now, do we need to simplify this fraction?

First, we attempt to divide it by 2...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 3...

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

777
630
÷ 3 =
259
210

Now, try the same number again.

Nope. Try the next prime number, 5...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 7...

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

259
210
÷ 7 =
37
30

Now, try the same number again.

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...

No good. 31 is larger than 30. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 21/63 + 9/10

21
63
+
9
10
=
37
30
© 2014 Randy Tayler