math help

What is 78/10 + 4/6?

What is 78/10 + 4/6?

Here's how to add

78
10
+
4
6

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 78 by 6, and get 468, then we multiply 10 by 6 and get 60.

78/10 times 6

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 4 by 10, and get 40, then multiply 10 by 6 and get 60.

4/6 times 10

The problem now has new fractions to add:

468
60
+
40
60

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

468 + 40 = 508

This yields the answer

508
60

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:

508
60
÷ 2 =
254
30

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:

254
30
÷ 2 =
127
15

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...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 5...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 7...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 11...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 13...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 17...

No good. 17 is larger than 15. So we're done reducing.

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 78/10 + 4/6

78
10
+
4
6
=
127
15
© 2014 Randy Tayler