math help

What is 5/100 + 9/10?

What is 5/100 + 9/10?

Here's how you add

5
100
+
9
10

Step 1

Our denominators (bottom numbers) don't match, so we can't add yet.

Since 10 is evenly divided by 100, we can multiply just one term to get a common denominator.

Multiply 9 by 10, and get 90, then we multiply 10 by 10 and get 100.

9/10 times 10

So now our fractions look like this:

5
100
+
90
100

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

5 + 90 = 95

Now we have an answer.

95
100

Step 3

Last of all, we need to simplify the fraction, if possible. Can it be reduced to a simpler fraction?

To find out, we try dividing 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:

95
100
÷ 5 =
19
20

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...

No good. 23 is larger than 19. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 5/100 + 9/10

5
100
+
9
10
=
19
20
© 2014 Randy Tayler