math help

What is 9/48 + 3/10?

What is 9/48 + 3/10?

Here's how to add

9
48
+
3
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 48 by 10 and get 480.

9/48 times 10

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 3 by 48, and get 144, then multiply 48 by 10 and get 480.

3/10 times 48

The problem now has new fractions to add:

90
480
+
144
480

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

90 + 144 = 234

The sum we get is

234
480

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:

234
480
÷ 2 =
117
240

Now, try the same number again.

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

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

117
240
÷ 3 =
39
80

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...

No good. 41 is larger than 39. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 9/48 + 3/10

9
48
+
3
10
=
39
80
© 2014 Randy Tayler