math help

What is 34/3 + 5/8?

What is 34/3 + 5/8?

Let's add

34
3
+
5
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 34 by 8, and get 272, then we multiply 3 by 8 and get 24.

34/3 times 8

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 5 by 3, and get 15, then multiply 3 by 8 and get 24.

5/8 times 3

The problem now has new fractions to add:

272
24
+
15
24

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

272 + 15 = 287

This yields the answer

287
24

Step 3

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

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

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. So next you try the next prime number, which is 17...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 19...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 23...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 29...

No good. 29 is larger than 24. So we're done reducing.

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 34/3 + 5/8

34
3
+
5
8
=
287
24
© 2014 Randy Tayler