math help

What is 36/4 + 1/5?

What is 36/4 + 1/5?

Here's how we add

36
4
+
1
5

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 36 by 5, and get 180, then we multiply 4 by 5 and get 20.

36/4 times 5

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 1 by 4, and get 4, then multiply 4 by 5 and get 20.

1/5 times 4

The problem now has new fractions to add:

180
20
+
4
20

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

180 + 4 = 184

The sum we get is

184
20

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:

184
20
÷ 2 =
92
10

Now, try the same number again.

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

92
10
÷ 2 =
46
5

Now, try the same number again.

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

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

Nope. Try the next prime number, 7...

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

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 36/4 + 1/5

36
4
+
1
5
=
46
5
© 2014 Randy Tayler