math help

What is 34/3 + 2/8?

What is 34/3 + 2/8?

Here's how you add

34
3
+
2
8

Step 1

Can you add yet? Nope! The denominators don't match. We need a common denominator. So next we take both denominators and multiply them. Next, take each numerator and multiply it by the denominator of the other term.

So, we multiply 34 by 8, and get 272, then we multiply 3 by 8 and get 24.

34/3 times 8

Now for the second term. You multiply 2 by 3, and get 6, then multiply 3 by 8 and get 24.

2/8 times 3

We now have a new problem, that looks like this:

272
24
+
6
24

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

272 + 6 = 278

That gives us the sum, which is

278
24

Step 3

Now, do we need to simplify this fraction?

First, we attempt to divide it by 2...

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

278
24
÷ 2 =
139
12

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...

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

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 11...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 13...

No good. 13 is larger than 12. So we're done reducing.

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 34/3 + 2/8

34
3
+
2
8
=
139
12
© 2014 Randy Tayler