math help

What is 3/64 + 3/8?

What is 3/64 + 3/8?

Let's add

3
64
+
3
8

Step 1

Now we need to make our denominators match.

Since 8 is evenly divided by 64, we can multiply just one term to get a common denominator.

Multiply 3 by 8, and get 24, then we multiply 8 by 8 and get 64.

3/8 times 8

The problem now has new fractions to add:

3
64
+
24
64

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

3 + 24 = 27

The sum we get is

27
64

Step 3

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

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

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 3...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 5...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 7...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 11...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 13...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 17...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 19...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 23...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 29...

No good. 29 is larger than 27. So we're done reducing.

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 3/64 + 3/8

3
64
+
3
8
=
27
64
© 2014 Randy Tayler