math help

What is 3/64 + 3/9?

What is 3/64 + 3/9?

This is how you add

3
64
+
3
9

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 9, and get 27, then we multiply 64 by 9 and get 576.

3/64 times 9

Now for the second term. You multiply 3 by 64, and get 192, then multiply 64 by 9 and get 576.

3/9 times 64

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

27
576
+
192
576

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

27 + 192 = 219

That gives us the sum, which is

219
576

Step 3

Now, do we need to simplify this fraction?

First, we attempt to divide it by 2...

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

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

219
576
÷ 3 =
73
192

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...

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...

No good. 79 is larger than 73. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 3/64 + 3/9

3
64
+
3
9
=
73
192
© 2014 Randy Tayler