math help

What is 3/20 + 2/9?

What is 3/20 + 2/9?

This is how to add

3
20
+
2
9

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 3 by 9, and get 27, then we multiply 20 by 9 and get 180.

3/20 times 9

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 2 by 20, and get 40, then multiply 20 by 9 and get 180.

2/9 times 20

The problem now has new fractions to add:

27
180
+
40
180

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

27 + 40 = 67

This yields the answer

67
180

Step 3

The last step is to reduce the fraction if we can.

To find out, we try dividing it by 2...

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

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

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

Nope. Try the next prime number, 11...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 13...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 17...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 19...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 23...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 29...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 31...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 37...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 41...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 43...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 47...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 53...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 59...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 61...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 67...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 71...

No good. 71 is larger than 67. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 3/20 + 2/9

3
20
+
2
9
=
67
180
© 2014 Randy Tayler