math help

What is 3/24 + 9/10?

What is 3/24 + 9/10?

Here's how we add

3
24
+
9
10

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 10, and get 30, then we multiply 24 by 10 and get 240.

3/24 times 10

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 9 by 24, and get 216, then multiply 24 by 10 and get 240.

9/10 times 24

The problem now has new fractions to add:

30
240
+
216
240

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

30 + 216 = 246

The sum we get is

246
240

Step 3

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

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

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 2? Yes! So we reduce it:

246
240
÷ 2 =
123
120

Now, try the same number again.

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

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

123
120
÷ 3 =
41
40

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...

No good. 41 is larger than 40. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 3/24 + 9/10

3
24
+
9
10
=
41
40
© 2014 Randy Tayler