math help

What is 45/3 + 9/10?

What is 45/3 + 9/10?

Here's how we add

45
3
+
9
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 45 by 10, and get 450, then we multiply 3 by 10 and get 30.

45/3 times 10

Now for the second term. You multiply 9 by 3, and get 27, then multiply 3 by 10 and get 30.

9/10 times 3

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

450
30
+
27
30

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

450 + 27 = 477

Answer:

477
30

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:

477
30
÷ 3 =
159
10

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...

No good. 11 is larger than 10. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 45/3 + 9/10

45
3
+
9
10
=
159
10
© 2014 Randy Tayler