math help

What is 4/52 + 5/9?

What is 4/52 + 5/9?

Here's how to add

4
52
+
5
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 5 by 52, and get 260, then multiply 52 by 9 and get 468.

5/9 times 52

The problem now has new fractions to add:

36
468
+
260
468

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

36 + 260 = 296

The sum we get is

296
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:

296
468
÷ 2 =
148
234

Now, try the same number again.

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

148
234
÷ 2 =
74
117

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...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 47...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 53...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 59...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 61...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 67...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 71...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 73...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 79...

No good. 79 is larger than 74. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 4/52 + 5/9

4
52
+
5
9
=
74
117
© 2014 Randy Tayler