math help

What is 45/3 + 2/8?

What is 45/3 + 2/8?

This is how you add

45
3
+
2
8

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 45 by 8, and get 360, then we multiply 3 by 8 and get 24.

45/3 times 8

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 2 by 3, and get 6, then multiply 3 by 8 and get 24.

2/8 times 3

The problem now has new fractions to add:

360
24
+
6
24

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

360 + 6 = 366

This yields the answer

366
24

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:

366
24
÷ 2 =
183
12

Now, try the same number again.

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

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

183
12
÷ 3 =
61
4

Now, try the same number again.

Nope. Try the next prime number, 5...

No good. 5 is larger than 4. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 45/3 + 2/8

45
3
+
2
8
=
61
4
© 2014 Randy Tayler