math help

What is 64/4 + 6/9?

What is 64/4 + 6/9?

This is how to add

64
4
+
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 4 by 9 and get 36.

64/4 times 9

Now for the second term. You multiply 6 by 4, and get 24, then multiply 4 by 9 and get 36.

6/9 times 4

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

576
36
+
24
36

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

576 + 24 = 600

Answer:

600
36

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:

600
36
÷ 2 =
300
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:

300
18
÷ 2 =
150
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:

150
9
÷ 3 =
50
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 64/4 + 6/9

64
4
+
6
9
=
50
3
© 2014 Randy Tayler