math help

What is 6/7 + 7/11?

What is 6/7 + 7/11?

This is how we add

6
7
+
7
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 6 by 11, and get 66, then we multiply 7 by 11 and get 77.

6/7 times 11

Now for the second term. You multiply 7 by 7, and get 49, then multiply 7 by 11 and get 77.

7/11 times 7

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

66
77
+
49
77

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

66 + 49 = 115

That gives us the sum, which is

115
77

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...

No good. 79 is larger than 77. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 6/7 + 7/11

6
7
+
7
11
=
115
77
© 2014 Randy Tayler