math help

What is 9/34 + 3/4?

What is 9/34 + 3/4?

Let's add

9
34
+
3
4

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 4, and get 36, then we multiply 34 by 4 and get 136.

9/34 times 4

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 3 by 34, and get 102, then multiply 34 by 4 and get 136.

3/4 times 34

The problem now has new fractions to add:

36
136
+
102
136

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

36 + 102 = 138

This yields the answer

138
136

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:

138
136
÷ 2 =
69
68

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 3...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 5...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 7...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 11...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 13...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 17...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 19...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 23...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 29...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 31...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 37...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 41...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 43...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 47...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 53...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 59...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 61...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 67...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 71...

No good. 71 is larger than 69. So we're done reducing.

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 9/34 + 3/4

9
34
+
3
4
=
69
68
© 2014 Randy Tayler