math help

What is 30/50 + 5/9?

What is 30/50 + 5/9?

This is how we add

30
50
+
5
9

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 30 by 9, and get 270, then we multiply 50 by 9 and get 450.

30/50 times 9

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 5 by 50, and get 250, then multiply 50 by 9 and get 450.

5/9 times 50

The problem now has new fractions to add:

270
450
+
250
450

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

270 + 250 = 520

The sum we get is

520
450

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:

520
450
÷ 2 =
260
225

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:

260
225
÷ 5 =
52
45

Now, try the same number again.

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...

No good. 47 is larger than 45. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 30/50 + 5/9

30
50
+
5
9
=
52
45
© 2014 Randy Tayler