math help

What is 72/63 + 2/5?

What is 72/63 + 2/5?

This is how you add

72
63
+
2
5

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 72 by 5, and get 360, then we multiply 63 by 5 and get 315.

72/63 times 5

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 2 by 63, and get 126, then multiply 63 by 5 and get 315.

2/5 times 63

The problem now has new fractions to add:

360
315
+
126
315

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

360 + 126 = 486

The sum we get is

486
315

Step 3

The last step is to reduce the fraction if we can.

To find out, we try dividing it by 2...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 3...

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 3? Yes! So we reduce it:

486
315
÷ 3 =
162
105

Now, try the same number again.

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 3? Yes! So we reduce it:

162
105
÷ 3 =
54
35

Now, try the same number again.

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...

No good. 37 is larger than 35. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 72/63 + 2/5

72
63
+
2
5
=
54
35
© 2014 Randy Tayler