math help

What is 25/36 + 1/8?

What is 25/36 + 1/8?

Here's how to add

25
36
+
1
8

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 25 by 8, and get 200, then we multiply 36 by 8 and get 288.

25/36 times 8

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 1 by 36, and get 36, then multiply 36 by 8 and get 288.

1/8 times 36

The problem now has new fractions to add:

200
288
+
36
288

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

200 + 36 = 236

The sum we get is

236
288

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:

236
288
÷ 2 =
118
144

Now, try the same number again.

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

118
144
÷ 2 =
59
72

Now, try the same number again.

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...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 53...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 59...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 61...

No good. 61 is larger than 59. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 25/36 + 1/8

25
36
+
1
8
=
59
72
© 2014 Randy Tayler