math help

What is 36/4 + 9/10?

What is 36/4 + 9/10?

This is how we add

36
4
+
9
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 9 by 4, and get 36, then multiply 4 by 10 and get 40.

9/10 times 4

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

360
40
+
36
40

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

360 + 36 = 396

Answer:

396
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:

396
40
÷ 2 =
198
20

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:

198
20
÷ 2 =
99
10

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. So next you try the next prime number, which is 11...

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

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 36/4 + 9/10

36
4
+
9
10
=
99
10
© 2014 Randy Tayler