math help

What is 48/30 + 3/9?

What is 48/30 + 3/9?

This is how to add

48
30
+
3
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 48 by 9, and get 432, then we multiply 30 by 9 and get 270.

48/30 times 9

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 3 by 30, and get 90, then multiply 30 by 9 and get 270.

3/9 times 30

The problem now has new fractions to add:

432
270
+
90
270

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

432 + 90 = 522

This yields the answer

522
270

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:

522
270
÷ 2 =
261
135

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:

261
135
÷ 3 =
87
45

Let's try dividing by that again...

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

87
45
÷ 3 =
29
15

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...

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

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 48/30 + 3/9

48
30
+
3
9
=
29
15
© 2014 Randy Tayler