math help

What is 4/52 + 1/5?

What is 4/52 + 1/5?

This is how to add

4
52
+
1
5

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 5, and get 20, then we multiply 52 by 5 and get 260.

4/52 times 5

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 1 by 52, and get 52, then multiply 52 by 5 and get 260.

1/5 times 52

The problem now has new fractions to add:

20
260
+
52
260

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

20 + 52 = 72

The sum we get is

72
260

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:

72
260
÷ 2 =
36
130

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

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

36
130
÷ 2 =
18
65

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 3...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 5...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 7...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 11...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 13...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 17...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 19...

No good. 19 is larger than 18. So we're done reducing.

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 4/52 + 1/5

4
52
+
1
5
=
18
65
© 2014 Randy Tayler