math help

What is 9/16 + 7/10?

What is 9/16 + 7/10?

Here's how to add

9
16
+
7
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 9 by 10, and get 90, then we multiply 16 by 10 and get 160.

9/16 times 10

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 7 by 16, and get 112, then multiply 16 by 10 and get 160.

7/10 times 16

The problem now has new fractions to add:

90
160
+
112
160

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

90 + 112 = 202

This yields the answer

202
160

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:

202
160
÷ 2 =
101
80

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...

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...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 83...

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

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 9/16 + 7/10

9
16
+
7
10
=
101
80
© 2014 Randy Tayler