math help

What is 45/4 + 8/10?

What is 45/4 + 8/10?

Here's how we add

45
4
+
8
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 4 by 10 and get 40.

45/4 times 10

Now for the second term. You multiply 8 by 4, and get 32, then multiply 4 by 10 and get 40.

8/10 times 4

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

450
40
+
32
40

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

450 + 32 = 482

Answer:

482
40

Step 3

Now, do we need to simplify this fraction?

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

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 2? Yes! So we reduce it:

482
40
÷ 2 =
241
20

Now, try the same number again.

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

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...

No good. 23 is larger than 20. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 45/4 + 8/10

45
4
+
8
10
=
241
20
© 2014 Randy Tayler