math help

What is 64/4 + 4/10?

What is 64/4 + 4/10?

Here's how you add

64
4
+
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 4 by 10 and get 40.

64/4 times 10

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 4 by 4, and get 16, then multiply 4 by 10 and get 40.

4/10 times 4

The problem now has new fractions to add:

640
40
+
16
40

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

640 + 16 = 656

This yields the answer

656
40

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
40
÷ 2 =
328
20

Now, try the same number again.

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

328
20
÷ 2 =
164
10

Now, try the same number again.

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

164
10
÷ 2 =
82
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 64/4 + 4/10

64
4
+
4
10
=
82
5
© 2014 Randy Tayler