math help

What is 25/36 + 4/9?

What is 25/36 + 4/9?

Here's how we add

25
36
+
4
9

Step 1

We have to make sure the denominators are equal.

Since 9 is evenly divided by 36, we can multiply just one term to get a common denominator.

Multiply 4 by 4, and get 16, then we multiply 9 by 4 and get 36.

4/9 times 4

The problem now has new fractions to add:

25
36
+
16
36

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

25 + 16 = 41

This yields the answer

41
36

Step 3

The last step is to reduce the fraction if we can.

To find out, we try dividing 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...

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. So next you try the next prime number, which is 17...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 19...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 23...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 29...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 31...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 37...

No good. 37 is larger than 36. So we're done reducing.

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 25/36 + 4/9

25
36
+
4
9
=
41
36
© 2014 Randy Tayler