math help

What is 64/16 + 4/10?

What is 64/16 + 4/10?

This is how we add

64
16
+
4
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 64 by 10, and get 640, then we multiply 16 by 10 and get 160.

64/16 times 10

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 4 by 16, and get 64, then multiply 16 by 10 and get 160.

4/10 times 16

The problem now has new fractions to add:

640
160
+
64
160

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

640 + 64 = 704

The sum we get is

704
160

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:

704
160
÷ 2 =
352
80

Now, try the same number again.

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

352
80
÷ 2 =
176
40

Now, try the same number again.

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

176
40
÷ 2 =
88
20

Now, try the same number again.

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

88
20
÷ 2 =
44
10

Now, try the same number again.

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

44
10
÷ 2 =
22
5

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...

No good. 7 is larger than 5. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 64/16 + 4/10

64
16
+
4
10
=
22
5
© 2014 Randy Tayler