math help

What is 22/22 + 2/4?

What is 22/22 + 2/4?

Let's add

22
22
+
2
4

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 22 by 4, and get 88, then we multiply 22 by 4 and get 88.

22/22 times 4

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 2 by 22, and get 44, then multiply 22 by 4 and get 88.

2/4 times 22

The problem now has new fractions to add:

88
88
+
44
88

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

88 + 44 = 132

This yields the answer

132
88

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:

132
88
÷ 2 =
66
44

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

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

66
44
÷ 2 =
33
22

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 3...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 5...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 7...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 11...

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 11? Yes! So we reduce it:

33
22
÷ 11 =
3
2

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

No good. 11 is larger than 3. So we're done reducing.

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 22/22 + 2/4

22
22
+
2
4
=
3
2
© 2014 Randy Tayler