math help

What is 25/36 + 5/8?

What is 25/36 + 5/8?

Here's how we add

25
36
+
5
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 5 by 36, and get 180, then multiply 36 by 8 and get 288.

5/8 times 36

The problem now has new fractions to add:

200
288
+
180
288

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

200 + 180 = 380

This yields the answer

380
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:

380
288
÷ 2 =
190
144

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:

190
144
÷ 2 =
95
72

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...

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. So next you try the next prime number, which is 41...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 43...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 47...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 53...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 59...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 61...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 67...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 71...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 73...

No good. 73 is larger than 72. So we're done reducing.

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 25/36 + 5/8

25
36
+
5
8
=
95
72
© 2014 Randy Tayler