math help

What is 30/50 + 6/8?

What is 30/50 + 6/8?

This is how we add

30
50
+
6
8

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 8, and get 240, then we multiply 50 by 8 and get 400.

30/50 times 8

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 6 by 50, and get 300, then multiply 50 by 8 and get 400.

6/8 times 50

The problem now has new fractions to add:

240
400
+
300
400

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

240 + 300 = 540

The sum we get is

540
400

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:

540
400
÷ 2 =
270
200

Now, try the same number again.

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

270
200
÷ 2 =
135
100

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:

135
100
÷ 5 =
27
20

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...

No good. 23 is larger than 20. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 30/50 + 6/8

30
50
+
6
8
=
27
20
© 2014 Randy Tayler