math help

What is 3/18 + 8/10?

What is 3/18 + 8/10?

Here's how we add

3
18
+
8
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 3 by 10, and get 30, then we multiply 18 by 10 and get 180.

3/18 times 10

Now for the second term. You multiply 8 by 18, and get 144, then multiply 18 by 10 and get 180.

8/10 times 18

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

30
180
+
144
180

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

30 + 144 = 174

That gives us the sum, which is

174
180

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:

174
180
÷ 2 =
87
90

Let's try dividing by that again...

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

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 3? Yes! So we reduce it:

87
90
÷ 3 =
29
30

Let's try dividing by that again...

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...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 13...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 17...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 19...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 23...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 29...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 31...

No good. 31 is larger than 29. So we're done reducing.

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 3/18 + 8/10

3
18
+
8
10
=
29
30
© 2014 Randy Tayler