What is 4/40 + 4/10?

This is how you add

Step 1

Our denominators (bottom numbers) don't match, so we can't add yet.

Since 10 is evenly divided by 40, we can multiply just one term to get a common denominator.

Multiply 4 by 4, and get 16, then we multiply 10 by 4 and get 40.

The problem now has new fractions to add:

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

4 + 16 = 20

This yields the answer

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:

Now, try the same number again.

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

Now, try the same number again.

Nope. Try the next prime number, 3...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 5...

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 5? Yes! So we reduce it:

Now, try the same number again.

No good. 5 is larger than 1. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 4/40 + 4/10