math help

What is 25/9 + 5/7?

What is 25/9 + 5/7?

Here's how we add

25
9
+
5
7

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 7, and get 175, then we multiply 9 by 7 and get 63.

25/9 times 7

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 5 by 9, and get 45, then multiply 9 by 7 and get 63.

5/7 times 9

The problem now has new fractions to add:

175
63
+
45
63

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

175 + 45 = 220

The sum we get is

220
63

Step 3

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

To find out, we try dividing it by 2...

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...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 67...

No good. 67 is larger than 63. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 25/9 + 5/7

25
9
+
5
7
=
220
63
© 2014 Randy Tayler