math help

What is 3/64 + 1/6?

What is 3/64 + 1/6?

Here's how we add

3
64
+
1
6

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 6, and get 18, then we multiply 64 by 6 and get 384.

3/64 times 6

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 1 by 64, and get 64, then multiply 64 by 6 and get 384.

1/6 times 64

The problem now has new fractions to add:

18
384
+
64
384

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

18 + 64 = 82

This yields the answer

82
384

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:

82
384
÷ 2 =
41
192

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 3...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 5...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 7...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 11...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 13...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 17...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 19...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 23...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 29...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 31...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 37...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 41...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 43...

No good. 43 is larger than 41. So we're done reducing.

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 3/64 + 1/6

3
64
+
1
6
=
41
192
© 2014 Randy Tayler