math help

What is 49/9 + 4/5?

What is 49/9 + 4/5?

Here's how we add

49
9
+
4
5

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 49 by 5, and get 245, then we multiply 9 by 5 and get 45.

49/9 times 5

Now for the second term. You multiply 4 by 9, and get 36, then multiply 9 by 5 and get 45.

4/5 times 9

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

245
45
+
36
45

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

245 + 36 = 281

Answer:

281
45

Step 3

Now, do we need to simplify this fraction?

First, we attempt to divide it by 2...

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 + 4/5

49
9
+
4
5
=
281
45
© 2014 Randy Tayler