math help

What is 64/16 + 6/9?

What is 64/16 + 6/9?

Here's how we add

64
16
+
6
9

Step 1

Can you add yet? Nope! The denominators don't match. We need a common denominator. So next we take both denominators and multiply them. Next, take each numerator and multiply it by the denominator of the other term.

So, we multiply 64 by 9, and get 576, then we multiply 16 by 9 and get 144.

64/16 times 9

Now for the second term. You multiply 6 by 16, and get 96, then multiply 16 by 9 and get 144.

6/9 times 16

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

576
144
+
96
144

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

576 + 96 = 672

That gives us the sum, which is

672
144

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:

672
144
÷ 2 =
336
72

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

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

336
72
÷ 2 =
168
36

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

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

168
36
÷ 2 =
84
18

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

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

84
18
÷ 2 =
42
9

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 3...

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 3? Yes! So we reduce it:

42
9
÷ 3 =
14
3

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 5...

No good. 5 is larger than 3. So we're done reducing.

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 64/16 + 6/9

64
16
+
6
9
=
14
3
© 2014 Randy Tayler