math help

What is 50/8 + 2/10?

What is 50/8 + 2/10?

Here's how to add

50
8
+
2
10

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 50 by 10, and get 500, then we multiply 8 by 10 and get 80.

50/8 times 10

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 2 by 8, and get 16, then multiply 8 by 10 and get 80.

2/10 times 8

The problem now has new fractions to add:

500
80
+
16
80

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

500 + 16 = 516

The sum we get is

516
80

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:

516
80
÷ 2 =
258
40

Now, try the same number again.

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

258
40
÷ 2 =
129
20

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...

No good. 23 is larger than 20. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 50/8 + 2/10

50
8
+
2
10
=
129
20
© 2014 Randy Tayler