math help

What is 4/40 + 3/11?

What is 4/40 + 3/11?

This is how you add

4
40
+
3
11

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 4 by 11, and get 44, then we multiply 40 by 11 and get 440.

4/40 times 11

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 3 by 40, and get 120, then multiply 40 by 11 and get 440.

3/11 times 40

The problem now has new fractions to add:

44
440
+
120
440

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

44 + 120 = 164

This yields the answer

164
440

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:

164
440
÷ 2 =
82
220

Now, try the same number again.

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 2? Yes! So we reduce it:

82
220
÷ 2 =
41
110

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...

No good. 43 is larger than 41. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 4/40 + 3/11

4
40
+
3
11
=
41
110
© 2014 Randy Tayler