math help

What is 64/17 + 4/6?

What is 64/17 + 4/6?

Here's how to add

64
17
+
4
6

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 6, and get 384, then we multiply 17 by 6 and get 102.

64/17 times 6

Now for the second term. You multiply 4 by 17, and get 68, then multiply 17 by 6 and get 102.

4/6 times 17

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

384
102
+
68
102

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

384 + 68 = 452

Answer:

452
102

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:

452
102
÷ 2 =
226
51

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...

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...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 29...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 31...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 37...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 41...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 43...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 47...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 53...

No good. 53 is larger than 51. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 64/17 + 4/6

64
17
+
4
6
=
226
51
© 2014 Randy Tayler