math help

What is 4/52 + 1/9?

What is 4/52 + 1/9?

This is how we add

4
52
+
1
9

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 9, and get 36, then we multiply 52 by 9 and get 468.

4/52 times 9

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 1 by 52, and get 52, then multiply 52 by 9 and get 468.

1/9 times 52

The problem now has new fractions to add:

36
468
+
52
468

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

36 + 52 = 88

This yields the answer

88
468

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:

88
468
÷ 2 =
44
234

Let's try dividing by that again...

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

44
234
÷ 2 =
22
117

Let's try dividing by that again...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 3...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 5...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 7...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 11...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 13...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 17...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 19...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 23...

No good. 23 is larger than 22. So we're done reducing.

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 4/52 + 1/9

4
52
+
1
9
=
22
117
© 2014 Randy Tayler