math help

What is 24/5 + 8/9?

What is 24/5 + 8/9?

Here's how we add

24
5
+
8
9

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 24 by 9, and get 216, then we multiply 5 by 9 and get 45.

24/5 times 9

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 8 by 5, and get 40, then multiply 5 by 9 and get 45.

8/9 times 5

The problem now has new fractions to add:

216
45
+
40
45

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

216 + 40 = 256

The sum we get is

256
45

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...

No good. 47 is larger than 45. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 24/5 + 8/9

24
5
+
8
9
=
256
45
© 2014 Randy Tayler