math help

What is 36/4 + 1/10?

What is 36/4 + 1/10?

This is how you add

36
4
+
1
10

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 36 by 10, and get 360, then we multiply 4 by 10 and get 40.

36/4 times 10

Now for the second term. You multiply 1 by 4, and get 4, then multiply 4 by 10 and get 40.

1/10 times 4

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

360
40
+
4
40

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

360 + 4 = 364

Answer:

364
40

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:

364
40
÷ 2 =
182
20

Let's try dividing by that again...

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

182
20
÷ 2 =
91
10

Let's try dividing by that again...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 3...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 5...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 7...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 11...

No good. 11 is larger than 10. So we're done reducing.

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 36/4 + 1/10

36
4
+
1
10
=
91
10
© 2014 Randy Tayler