math help

What is 45/4 + 8/9?

What is 45/4 + 8/9?

This is how we add

45
4
+
8
9

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 9, and get 405, then we multiply 4 by 9 and get 36.

45/4 times 9

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 8 by 4, and get 32, then multiply 4 by 9 and get 36.

8/9 times 4

The problem now has new fractions to add:

405
36
+
32
36

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

405 + 32 = 437

This yields the answer

437
36

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...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 19...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 23...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 29...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 31...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 37...

No good. 37 is larger than 36. So we're done reducing.

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 45/4 + 8/9

45
4
+
8
9
=
437
36
© 2014 Randy Tayler