math help

What is 64/4 + 5/9?

What is 64/4 + 5/9?

Here's how you add

64
4
+
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 4 by 9 and get 36.

64/4 times 9

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 5 by 4, and get 20, then multiply 4 by 9 and get 36.

5/9 times 4

The problem now has new fractions to add:

576
36
+
20
36

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

576 + 20 = 596

This yields the answer

596
36

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:

596
36
÷ 2 =
298
18

Now, try the same number again.

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

298
18
÷ 2 =
149
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 64/4 + 5/9

64
4
+
5
9
=
149
9
© 2014 Randy Tayler