math help

What is 80/2 + 2/7?

What is 80/2 + 2/7?

Here's how to add

80
2
+
2
7

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 80 by 7, and get 560, then we multiply 2 by 7 and get 14.

80/2 times 7

Now for the second term. You multiply 2 by 2, and get 4, then multiply 2 by 7 and get 14.

2/7 times 2

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

560
14
+
4
14

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

560 + 4 = 564

Answer:

564
14

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:

564
14
÷ 2 =
282
7

Now, try the same number again.

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...

No good. 11 is larger than 7. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 80/2 + 2/7

80
2
+
2
7
=
282
7
© 2014 Randy Tayler