math help

What is 5/100 + 1/9?

What is 5/100 + 1/9?

This is how we add

5
100
+
1
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 5 by 9, and get 45, then we multiply 100 by 9 and get 900.

5/100 times 9

Now for the second term. You multiply 1 by 100, and get 100, then multiply 100 by 9 and get 900.

1/9 times 100

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

45
900
+
100
900

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

45 + 100 = 145

Answer:

145
900

Step 3

Now, do we need to simplify this fraction?

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

Nope. Try the next prime number, 3...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 5...

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 5? Yes! So we reduce it:

145
900
÷ 5 =
29
180

Now, try the same number again.

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...

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

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 5/100 + 1/9

5
100
+
1
9
=
29
180
© 2014 Randy Tayler