math help

What is 30/50 + 4/10?

What is 30/50 + 4/10?

This is how we add

30
50
+
4
10

Step 1

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

Since 10 is evenly divided by 50, we can multiply just one term to get a common denominator.

Multiply 4 by 5, and get 20, then we multiply 10 by 5 and get 50.

4/10 times 5

The problem now has new fractions to add:

30
50
+
20
50

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

30 + 20 = 50

The sum we get is

50
50

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:

50
50
÷ 2 =
25
25

Now, try the same number again.

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

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

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 5? Yes! So we reduce it:

25
25
÷ 5 =
5
5

Now, try the same number again.

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 5? Yes! So we reduce it:

5
5
÷ 5 =
1
1

Now, try the same number again.

No good. 5 is larger than 1. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 30/50 + 4/10

30
50
+
4
10
=
1
1
= 1
© 2014 Randy Tayler