math help

What is 7/16 + 3/5?

What is 7/16 + 3/5?

This is how we add

7
16
+
3
5

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 7 by 5, and get 35, then we multiply 16 by 5 and get 80.

7/16 times 5

Now for the second term. You multiply 3 by 16, and get 48, then multiply 16 by 5 and get 80.

3/5 times 16

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

35
80
+
48
80

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

35 + 48 = 83

That gives us the sum, which is

83
80

Step 3

Now, do we need to simplify this fraction?

First, we attempt to divide 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...

No good. 83 is larger than 80. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 7/16 + 3/5

7
16
+
3
5
=
83
80
© 2014 Randy Tayler