math help

What is 34/3 + 2/7?

What is 34/3 + 2/7?

Here's how we add

34
3
+
2
7

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 34 by 7, and get 238, then we multiply 3 by 7 and get 21.

34/3 times 7

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 2 by 3, and get 6, then multiply 3 by 7 and get 21.

2/7 times 3

The problem now has new fractions to add:

238
21
+
6
21

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

238 + 6 = 244

The sum we get is

244
21

Step 3

The last step is to reduce the fraction if we can.

To find out, we try dividing it by 2...

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

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

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 21. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 34/3 + 2/7

34
3
+
2
7
=
244
21
© 2014 Randy Tayler