math help

What is 43/15 + 3/5?

What is 43/15 + 3/5?

This is how we add

43
15
+
3
5

Step 1

Now we need to make our denominators match.

Since 5 is evenly divided by 15, we can multiply just one term to get a common denominator.

Multiply 3 by 3, and get 9, then we multiply 5 by 3 and get 15.

3/5 times 3

The problem now has new fractions to add:

43
15
+
9
15

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

43 + 9 = 52

This yields the answer

52
15

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...

No good. 17 is larger than 15. So we're done reducing.

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 43/15 + 3/5

43
15
+
3
5
=
52
15
© 2014 Randy Tayler