math help

What is 9/48 + 4/10?

What is 9/48 + 4/10?

Let's add

9
48
+
4
10

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 10, and get 90, then we multiply 48 by 10 and get 480.

9/48 times 10

Now for the second term. You multiply 4 by 48, and get 192, then multiply 48 by 10 and get 480.

4/10 times 48

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

90
480
+
192
480

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

90 + 192 = 282

That gives us the sum, which is

282
480

Step 3

Now, do we need to simplify this fraction?

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

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 2? Yes! So we reduce it:

282
480
÷ 2 =
141
240

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...

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

141
240
÷ 3 =
47
80

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 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. 53 is larger than 47. So we're done reducing.

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 9/48 + 4/10

9
48
+
4
10
=
47
80
© 2014 Randy Tayler