math help

What is 5/100 + 5/8?

What is 5/100 + 5/8?

This is how to add

5
100
+
5
8

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 5 by 8, and get 40, then we multiply 100 by 8 and get 800.

5/100 times 8

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 5 by 100, and get 500, then multiply 100 by 8 and get 800.

5/8 times 100

The problem now has new fractions to add:

40
800
+
500
800

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

40 + 500 = 540

The sum we get is

540
800

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:

540
800
÷ 2 =
270
400

Now, try the same number again.

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

270
400
÷ 2 =
135
200

Now, try the same number again.

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:

135
200
÷ 5 =
27
40

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...

No good. 29 is larger than 27. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 5/100 + 5/8

5
100
+
5
8
=
27
40
© 2014 Randy Tayler