math help

What is 11/12 + 1/7?

What is 11/12 + 1/7?

This is how we add

11
12
+
1
7

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 11 by 7, and get 77, then we multiply 12 by 7 and get 84.

11/12 times 7

Now for the second term. You multiply 1 by 12, and get 12, then multiply 12 by 7 and get 84.

1/7 times 12

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

77
84
+
12
84

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

77 + 12 = 89

That gives us the sum, which is

89
84

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...

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...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 71...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 73...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 79...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 83...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 89...

No good. 89 is larger than 84. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 11/12 + 1/7

11
12
+
1
7
=
89
84
© 2014 Randy Tayler