Homework 10 Solution

Write a program that reads in two fractions from the user and prints out the sum of the two numbers in lowest terms. Recall (from grade school!) that

n1 n2 n1 d2 + n2 d1
-- + -- = -------------
d1 d2 d1 d2

and that to reduce a fraction to lowest terms you divide the numerator n and the denominator d by the greatest common divisor of n and d. Of course, in these lecture notes we discuss greatest common divisor! A run of your program should look something like this:

Enter a fraction addition problem: 15/28 + 7/32
15/28 + 7/32 = 169/224

Turn In a printout of your code, along with a screen capture of your program running on input 15/28 + 7/32.

Solution

// KGS
// Hmwk 10
// Adding two fractions


#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main(){
int numerator1, numerator2, denominator1, denominator2;
    char junk;

cout << "Enter a fraction addition problem: ";
cin >> numerator1 >> junk >> denominator1 >> junk >> numerator2 >> junk >> denominator2;

    // Add the two fractions
int ansNumerator,ansDenominator;
ansNumerator = numerator1*denominator2 + numerator2*denominator1;
ansDenominator = denominator1*denominator2;

int a, b, r;
    // Make sure a contains the larger of the two numbers
    if (ansNumerator >= ansDenominator) {
        a = ansNumerator;
        b = ansDenominator;
    }
    else {
        a = ansDenominator;
        b = ansNumerator;
    }

    // Find the gcd
    while (b != 0){
        r = a % b; // remember "%" is remainder
        a = b;
        b = r;
    }

    // Reduce the fraction
    // Note variable a contains the gcd
ansNumerator = ansNumerator/a;
ansDenominator = ansDenominator/a;

    // Print the results
cout << endl << numerator1 << '/' << denominator1 << " + " << numerator2 << '/' << denominator2
            << " = " << ansNumerator << '/' << ansDenominator << endl;
    return 0;
}