math help

What is 25/15 + 3/4?

What is 25/15 + 3/4?

Here's how you add

25
15
+
3
4

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 25 by 4, and get 100, then we multiply 15 by 4 and get 60.

25/15 times 4

Now for the second term. You multiply 3 by 15, and get 45, then multiply 15 by 4 and get 60.

3/4 times 15

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

100
60
+
45
60

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

100 + 45 = 145

That gives us the sum, which is

145
60

Step 3

Now, do we need to simplify this fraction?

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

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...

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 5? Yes! So we reduce it:

145
60
÷ 5 =
29
12

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 7...

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

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 13...

No good. 13 is larger than 12. So we're done reducing.

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 25/15 + 3/4

25
15
+
3
4
=
29
12
© 2014 Randy Tayler