math help

What is 3/24 + 2/10?

What is 3/24 + 2/10?

Here's how we add

3
24
+
2
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 24 by 10 and get 240.

3/24 times 10

Now for the second term. You multiply 2 by 24, and get 48, then multiply 24 by 10 and get 240.

2/10 times 24

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

30
240
+
48
240

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

30 + 48 = 78

That gives us the sum, which is

78
240

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:

78
240
÷ 2 =
39
120

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:

39
120
÷ 3 =
13
40

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...

No good. 17 is larger than 13. So we're done reducing.

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 3/24 + 2/10

3
24
+
2
10
=
13
40
© 2014 Randy Tayler