math help

What is 45/4 + 3/6?

What is 45/4 + 3/6?

This is how you add

45
4
+
3
6

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 6, and get 270, then we multiply 4 by 6 and get 24.

45/4 times 6

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 3 by 4, and get 12, then multiply 4 by 6 and get 24.

3/6 times 4

The problem now has new fractions to add:

270
24
+
12
24

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

270 + 12 = 282

This yields the answer

282
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:

282
24
÷ 2 =
141
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:

141
12
÷ 3 =
47
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 45/4 + 3/6

45
4
+
3
6
=
47
4
© 2014 Randy Tayler