math help

What is 7/16 + 2/9?

What is 7/16 + 2/9?

This is how to add

7
16
+
2
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 7 by 9, and get 63, then we multiply 16 by 9 and get 144.

7/16 times 9

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 2 by 16, and get 32, then multiply 16 by 9 and get 144.

2/9 times 16

The problem now has new fractions to add:

63
144
+
32
144

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

63 + 32 = 95

This yields the answer

95
144

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...

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...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 41...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 43...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 47...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 53...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 59...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 61...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 67...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 71...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 73...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 79...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 83...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 89...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 97...

No good. 97 is larger than 95. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 7/16 + 2/9

7
16
+
2
9
=
95
144
© 2014 Randy Tayler