math help

What is 9/34 + 1/2?

What is 9/34 + 1/2?

Here's how we add

9
34
+
1
2

Step 1

Our denominators (bottom numbers) don't match, so we can't add yet.

Since 2 is evenly divided by 34, we can multiply just one term to get a common denominator.

Multiply 1 by 17, and get 17, then we multiply 2 by 17 and get 34.

1/2 times 17

The problem now has new fractions to add:

9
34
+
17
34

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

9 + 17 = 26

The sum we get is

26
34

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:

26
34
÷ 2 =
13
17

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...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 13...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 17...

No good. 17 is larger than 13. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 9/34 + 1/2

9
34
+
1
2
=
13
17
© 2014 Randy Tayler