math help

What is 9/34 + 3/9?

What is 9/34 + 3/9?

This is how to add

9
34
+
3
9

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 9 by 9, and get 81, then we multiply 34 by 9 and get 306.

9/34 times 9

Now for the second term. You multiply 3 by 34, and get 102, then multiply 34 by 9 and get 306.

3/9 times 34

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

81
306
+
102
306

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

81 + 102 = 183

That gives us the sum, which is

183
306

Step 3

Now, do we need to simplify this fraction?

First, we attempt to divide it by 2...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 3...

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 3? Yes! So we reduce it:

183
306
÷ 3 =
61
102

Now, try the same number again.

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...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 19...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 23...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 29...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 31...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 37...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 41...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 43...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 47...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 53...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 59...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 61...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 67...

No good. 67 is larger than 61. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 9/34 + 3/9

9
34
+
3
9
=
61
102
© 2014 Randy Tayler