math help

What is 64/16 + 5/9?

What is 64/16 + 5/9?

This is how we add

64
16
+
5
9

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 9, and get 576, then we multiply 16 by 9 and get 144.

64/16 times 9

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 5 by 16, and get 80, then multiply 16 by 9 and get 144.

5/9 times 16

The problem now has new fractions to add:

576
144
+
80
144

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

576 + 80 = 656

The sum we get is

656
144

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:

656
144
÷ 2 =
328
72

Now, try the same number again.

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

328
72
÷ 2 =
164
36

Now, try the same number again.

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

164
36
÷ 2 =
82
18

Now, try the same number again.

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

82
18
÷ 2 =
41
9

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 9. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 64/16 + 5/9

64
16
+
5
9
=
41
9
© 2014 Randy Tayler