math help

What is 3/64 + 1/2?

What is 3/64 + 1/2?

Here's how to add

3
64
+
1
2

Step 1

Our denominators (bottom numbers) don't match, so we can't add yet.

Since 2 is evenly divided by 64, we can multiply just one term to get a common denominator.

Multiply 1 by 32, and get 32, then we multiply 2 by 32 and get 64.

1/2 times 32

The problem now has new fractions to add:

3
64
+
32
64

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

3 + 32 = 35

The sum we get is

35
64

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...

No good. 37 is larger than 35. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 3/64 + 1/2

3
64
+
1
2
=
35
64
© 2014 Randy Tayler