math help

What is 36/4 + 8/10?

What is 36/4 + 8/10?

This is how you add

36
4
+
8
10

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

36/4 times 10

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 8 by 4, and get 32, then multiply 4 by 10 and get 40.

8/10 times 4

The problem now has new fractions to add:

360
40
+
32
40

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

360 + 32 = 392

This yields the answer

392
40

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:

392
40
÷ 2 =
196
20

Now, try the same number again.

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

196
20
÷ 2 =
98
10

Now, try the same number again.

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

98
10
÷ 2 =
49
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 + 8/10

36
4
+
8
10
=
49
5
© 2014 Randy Tayler