math help

What is 2/10 + 8/11?

What is 2/10 + 8/11?

This is how we add

2
10
+
8
11

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 2 by 11, and get 22, then we multiply 10 by 11 and get 110.

2/10 times 11

Now for the second term. You multiply 8 by 10, and get 80, then multiply 10 by 11 and get 110.

8/11 times 10

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

22
110
+
80
110

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

22 + 80 = 102

That gives us the sum, which is

102
110

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:

102
110
÷ 2 =
51
55

Now, try the same number again.

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...

No good. 53 is larger than 51. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 2/10 + 8/11

2
10
+
8
11
=
51
55
© 2014 Randy Tayler