math help

What is 3/24 + 7/9?

What is 3/24 + 7/9?

Let's add

3
24
+
7
9

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 9, and get 27, then we multiply 24 by 9 and get 216.

3/24 times 9

Now for the second term. You multiply 7 by 24, and get 168, then multiply 24 by 9 and get 216.

7/9 times 24

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

27
216
+
168
216

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

27 + 168 = 195

Answer:

195
216

Step 3

Now, do we need to simplify this fraction?

First, we attempt to divide it by 2...

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

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

195
216
÷ 3 =
65
72

Now, try the same number again.

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...

No good. 67 is larger than 65. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 3/24 + 7/9

3
24
+
7
9
=
65
72
© 2014 Randy Tayler