math help

What is 2/5 + 8/10?

What is 2/5 + 8/10?

Here's how we add

2
5
+
8
10

Step 1

Our denominators (bottom numbers) don't match, so we can't add yet.

10 goes into 5 evenly, so we only need to multiply one term to get a common denominator.

Multiply 2 by 2, and get 4, then we multiply 5 by 2 and get 10.

2/5 times 2

This gives us a new problem that looks like so:

4
10
+
8
10

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

4 + 8 = 12

That gives us an answer of

12
10

Step 3

Can this fraction be reduced?

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

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

12
10
÷ 2 =
6
5

Now, try the same number again.

Nope. Try the next prime number, 3...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 5...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 7...

No good. 7 is larger than 6. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 2/5 + 8/10

2
5
+
8
10
=
6
5
© 2014 Randy Tayler