math help

What is 3/64 + 2/10?

What is 3/64 + 2/10?

This is how you add

3
64
+
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 64 by 10 and get 640.

3/64 times 10

Now for the second term. You multiply 2 by 64, and get 128, then multiply 64 by 10 and get 640.

2/10 times 64

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

30
640
+
128
640

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

30 + 128 = 158

That gives us the sum, which is

158
640

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:

158
640
÷ 2 =
79
320

Now, try the same number again.

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...

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...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 71...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 73...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 79...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 83...

No good. 83 is larger than 79. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 3/64 + 2/10

3
64
+
2
10
=
79
320
© 2014 Randy Tayler