math help

What is 64/16 + 3/8?

What is 64/16 + 3/8?

Here's how to add

64
16
+
3
8

Step 1

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

16 goes into 8 evenly, so we only need to multiply one term to get a common denominator.

Multiply 3 by 2, and get 6, then we multiply 8 by 2 and get 16.

3/8 times 2

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

64
16
+
6
16

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

64 + 6 = 70

Answer:

70
16

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:

70
16
÷ 2 =
35
8

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...

No good. 11 is larger than 8. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 64/16 + 3/8

64
16
+
3
8
=
35
8
© 2014 Randy Tayler