math help

What is 30/50 + 8/10?

What is 30/50 + 8/10?

Here's how to add

30
50
+
8
10

Step 1

We have to make sure the denominators are equal.

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

Multiply 8 by 5, and get 40, then we multiply 10 by 5 and get 50.

8/10 times 5

The problem now has new fractions to add:

30
50
+
40
50

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

30 + 40 = 70

This yields the answer

70
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:

70
50
÷ 2 =
35
25

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 3...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 5...

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

35
25
÷ 5 =
7
5

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 7...

No good. 7 is larger than 5. So we're done reducing.

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 30/50 + 8/10

30
50
+
8
10
=
7
5
© 2014 Randy Tayler