math help

What is 49/9 + 2/10?

What is 49/9 + 2/10?

Here's how to add

49
9
+
2
10

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 49 by 10, and get 490, then we multiply 9 by 10 and get 90.

49/9 times 10

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 2 by 9, and get 18, then multiply 9 by 10 and get 90.

2/10 times 9

The problem now has new fractions to add:

490
90
+
18
90

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

490 + 18 = 508

The sum we get is

508
90

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:

508
90
÷ 2 =
254
45

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...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 29...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 31...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 37...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 41...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 43...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 47...

No good. 47 is larger than 45. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 49/9 + 2/10

49
9
+
2
10
=
254
45
© 2014 Randy Tayler