math help

What is 4/52 + 6/9?

What is 4/52 + 6/9?

Let's add

4
52
+
6
9

Step 1

Can you add yet? Nope! The denominators don't match. We need a common denominator. So next we take both denominators and multiply them. Next, take each numerator and multiply it by the denominator of the other term.

So, we multiply 4 by 9, and get 36, then we multiply 52 by 9 and get 468.

4/52 times 9

Now for the second term. You multiply 6 by 52, and get 312, then multiply 52 by 9 and get 468.

6/9 times 52

We now have a new problem, that looks like this:

36
468
+
312
468

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

36 + 312 = 348

That gives us the sum, which is

348
468

Step 3

Now, do we need to simplify this fraction?

First, we attempt to divide it by 2...

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

348
468
÷ 2 =
174
234

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:

174
234
÷ 2 =
87
117

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...

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 3? Yes! So we reduce it:

87
117
÷ 3 =
29
39

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 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. So next you try the next prime number, which is 23...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 29...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 31...

No good. 31 is larger than 29. So we're done reducing.

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 4/52 + 6/9

4
52
+
6
9
=
29
39
© 2014 Randy Tayler