math help

What is 64/4 + 4/7?

What is 64/4 + 4/7?

This is how you add

64
4
+
4
7

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 7, and get 448, then we multiply 4 by 7 and get 28.

64/4 times 7

Now for the second term. You multiply 4 by 4, and get 16, then multiply 4 by 7 and get 28.

4/7 times 4

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

448
28
+
16
28

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

448 + 16 = 464

That gives us the sum, which is

464
28

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:

464
28
÷ 2 =
232
14

Now, try the same number again.

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

232
14
÷ 2 =
116
7

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 7. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 64/4 + 4/7

64
4
+
4
7
=
116
7
© 2014 Randy Tayler