Solve the Fraction Addition: 4/10 + 2/6 Step by Step

Fraction Addition with Unlike Denominators

Solve the following exercise:

410+26=? \frac{4}{10}+\frac{2}{6}=\text{?}

❤️ Continue Your Math Journey!

We have hundreds of course questions with personalized recommendations + Account 100% premium

Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations
00:00 Solve
00:03 We want to find the least common denominator
00:06 Therefore we'll multiply by 3 and 5 respectively for the common denominator 30
00:09 Remember to multiply both numerator and denominator
00:21 Let's calculate the multiplications
00:26 Add under common denominator
00:31 Calculate the numerator
00:36 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution
1

Understand the problem

Solve the following exercise:

410+26=? \frac{4}{10}+\frac{2}{6}=\text{?}

2

Step-by-step solution

To solve for the sum of 410+26 \frac{4}{10} + \frac{2}{6} , we will proceed with the following steps:

  • Step 1: Identify the least common denominator (LCD)
  • Step 2: Convert each fraction to an equivalent fraction with this common denominator
  • Step 3: Add the numerators

Let's begin:

Step 1: Identify the least common denominator (LCD)
The denominators are 10 and 6. The least common multiple (LCM) of 10 and 6 can be found by evaluating their prime factors:
10 = 2 × 5
6 = 2 × 3
The LCM is found by taking the highest power of each prime that appears:
LCM = 2 × 3 × 5 = 30.
Thus, the common denominator is 30.

Step 2: Convert each fraction to an equivalent fraction with the common denominator of 30
For 410 \frac{4}{10} :
Multiply both the numerator and the denominator by 3 to make the denominator 30:
410=4×310×3=1230 \frac{4}{10} = \frac{4 \times 3}{10 \times 3} = \frac{12}{30} .
For 26 \frac{2}{6} :
Multiply both the numerator and the denominator by 5 to make the denominator 30:
26=2×56×5=1030 \frac{2}{6} = \frac{2 \times 5}{6 \times 5} = \frac{10}{30} .

Step 3: Add the numerators
Now that the fractions have the same denominator, add the numerators:
1230+1030=12+1030=2230 \frac{12}{30} + \frac{10}{30} = \frac{12 + 10}{30} = \frac{22}{30} .
This fraction cannot be simplified further as 22 and 30 have no common factors besides 1.

Therefore, the sum of 410+26 \frac{4}{10} + \frac{2}{6} is 2230 \frac{22}{30} .

3

Final Answer

2230 \frac{22}{30}

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Rule: Find LCD before adding fractions with different denominators
  • Technique: Convert 410 \frac{4}{10} to 1230 \frac{12}{30} by multiplying by 3
  • Check: Verify LCD is smallest common multiple: 2×3×5=30 ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Adding numerators and denominators separately
    Don't add 4+2=6 and 10+6=16 to get 6/16! This completely ignores the fraction structure and gives wrong results. Always find the LCD first, then convert both fractions to equivalent forms with the same denominator.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

Complete the following exercise:

\( \frac{3}{4}:\frac{5}{6}=\text{?} \)

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why can't I just add 4+2 and 10+6 directly?

+

Because fractions represent parts of a whole, and you can't add parts of different-sized wholes! Think of 410 \frac{4}{10} as 4 pieces of a 10-slice pizza and 26 \frac{2}{6} as 2 pieces of a 6-slice pizza - you need equal slice sizes first!

How do I find the LCD of 10 and 6?

+

Break each number into prime factors: 10 = 2×5 and 6 = 2×3. The LCD uses the highest power of each prime that appears: LCD = 2×3×5 = 30.

What if I get a different common denominator than 30?

+

Any common multiple works, but the least common denominator makes calculations easier! For example, 60 would work too: 2460+2060=4460 \frac{24}{60} + \frac{20}{60} = \frac{44}{60} , but this reduces to the same answer as 2230 \frac{22}{30} .

Do I need to simplify the final answer?

+

Always check if you can simplify! For 2230 \frac{22}{30} , find the GCD of 22 and 30. Since 22 = 2×11 and 30 = 2×3×5, they share only 2 as a common factor, giving us 1115 \frac{11}{15} .

Can I convert these to decimals instead?

+

Yes! 410=0.4 \frac{4}{10} = 0.4 and 26=0.333... \frac{2}{6} = 0.333... , so 0.4 + 0.333... = 0.733... But working with fractions often gives exact answers instead of rounded decimals.

🌟 Unlock Your Math Potential

Get unlimited access to all 18 Operations with Fractions questions, detailed video solutions, and personalized progress tracking.

📹

Unlimited Video Solutions

Step-by-step explanations for every problem

📊

Progress Analytics

Track your mastery across all topics

🚫

Ad-Free Learning

Focus on math without distractions

No credit card required • Cancel anytime

More Questions

Click on any question to see the complete solution with step-by-step explanations