math help

What is 25/9 + 2/6?

What is 25/9 + 2/6?

Here's how to add

25
9
+
2
6

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 6, and get 150, then we multiply 9 by 6 and get 54.

25/9 times 6

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 2 by 9, and get 18, then multiply 9 by 6 and get 54.

2/6 times 9

The problem now has new fractions to add:

150
54
+
18
54

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

150 + 18 = 168

This yields the answer

168
54

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:

168
54
÷ 2 =
84
27

Let's try dividing by that again...

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

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 3? Yes! So we reduce it:

84
27
÷ 3 =
28
9

Let's try dividing by that again...

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 25/9 + 2/6

25
9
+
2
6
=
28
9
© 2014 Randy Tayler