math help

What is 97/75 + 4/10?

What is 97/75 + 4/10?

Here's how we add

97
75
+
4
10

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 97 by 10, and get 970, then we multiply 75 by 10 and get 750.

97/75 times 10

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 4 by 75, and get 300, then multiply 75 by 10 and get 750.

4/10 times 75

The problem now has new fractions to add:

970
750
+
300
750

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

970 + 300 = 1270

This yields the answer

1270
750

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:

1270
750
÷ 2 =
635
375

Let's try dividing by that again...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 3...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 5...

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 5? Yes! So we reduce it:

635
375
÷ 5 =
127
75

Let's try dividing by that again...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 7...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 11...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 13...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 17...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 19...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 23...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 29...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 31...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 37...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 41...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 43...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 47...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 53...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 59...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 61...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 67...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 71...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 73...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 79...

No good. 79 is larger than 75. So we're done reducing.

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 97/75 + 4/10

97
75
+
4
10
=
127
75
© 2014 Randy Tayler