math help

What is 36/4 + 1/6?

What is 36/4 + 1/6?

Here's how you add

36
4
+
1
6

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 6, and get 216, then we multiply 4 by 6 and get 24.

36/4 times 6

Now for the second term. You multiply 1 by 4, and get 4, then multiply 4 by 6 and get 24.

1/6 times 4

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

216
24
+
4
24

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

216 + 4 = 220

That gives us the sum, which is

220
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:

220
24
÷ 2 =
110
12

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

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

110
12
÷ 2 =
55
6

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. 7 is larger than 6. So we're done reducing.

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 36/4 + 1/6

36
4
+
1
6
=
55
6
© 2014 Randy Tayler