math help

What is 48/30 + 1/8?

What is 48/30 + 1/8?

This is how we add

48
30
+
1
8

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 48 by 8, and get 384, then we multiply 30 by 8 and get 240.

48/30 times 8

Now for the second term. You multiply 1 by 30, and get 30, then multiply 30 by 8 and get 240.

1/8 times 30

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

384
240
+
30
240

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

384 + 30 = 414

That gives us the sum, which is

414
240

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:

414
240
÷ 2 =
207
120

Let's try dividing by that again...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 3...

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 3? Yes! So we reduce it:

207
120
÷ 3 =
69
40

Let's try dividing by that again...

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...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 41...

No good. 41 is larger than 40. So we're done reducing.

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 48/30 + 1/8

48
30
+
1
8
=
69
40
© 2014 Randy Tayler