math help

What is 48/30 + 1/3?

What is 48/30 + 1/3?

Here's how you add

48
30
+
1
3

Step 1

Our denominators (bottom numbers) don't match, so we can't add yet.

Since 3 is evenly divided by 30, we can multiply just one term to get a common denominator.

Multiply 1 by 10, and get 10, then we multiply 3 by 10 and get 30.

1/3 times 10

The problem now has new fractions to add:

48
30
+
10
30

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

48 + 10 = 58

This yields the answer

58
30

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:

58
30
÷ 2 =
29
15

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...

No good. 17 is larger than 15. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 48/30 + 1/3

48
30
+
1
3
=
29
15
© 2014 Randy Tayler