math help

What is 25/36 + 6/8?

What is 25/36 + 6/8?

Here's how you add

25
36
+
6
8

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

25/36 times 8

Now for the second term. You multiply 6 by 36, and get 216, then multiply 36 by 8 and get 288.

6/8 times 36

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

200
288
+
216
288

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

200 + 216 = 416

Answer:

416
288

Step 3

Now, do we need to simplify this fraction?

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

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

416
288
÷ 2 =
208
144

Let's try dividing by that again...

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

208
144
÷ 2 =
104
72

Let's try dividing by that again...

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

104
72
÷ 2 =
52
36

Let's try dividing by that again...

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

52
36
÷ 2 =
26
18

Let's try dividing by that again...

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

26
18
÷ 2 =
13
9

Let's try dividing by that again...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 3...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 5...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 7...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 11...

No good. 11 is larger than 9. So we're done reducing.

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 25/36 + 6/8

25
36
+
6
8
=
13
9
© 2014 Randy Tayler