math help

What is 100/50 + 1/11?

What is 100/50 + 1/11?

Let's add

100
50
+
1
11

Step 1

Of course, you can't add two fractions if the denominators (bottom numbers) don't match. To get a common denominator, multiply the denominators together. Then we fix the numerators by multiplying each one by their other term's denominator.

Now you multiply 100 by 11, and get 1100, then we multiply 50 by 11 and get 550.

100/50 times 11

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 1 by 50, and get 50, then multiply 50 by 11 and get 550.

1/11 times 50

The problem now has new fractions to add:

1100
550
+
50
550

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

1100 + 50 = 1150

This yields the answer

1150
550

Step 3

The last step is to reduce the fraction if we can.

To find out, we try dividing it by 2...

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 2? Yes! So we reduce it:

1150
550
÷ 2 =
575
275

Let's try dividing by that again...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 3...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 5...

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 5? Yes! So we reduce it:

575
275
÷ 5 =
115
55

Let's try dividing by that again...

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 5? Yes! So we reduce it:

115
55
÷ 5 =
23
11

Let's try dividing by that again...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 7...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 11...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 13...

No good. 13 is larger than 11. So we're done reducing.

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 100/50 + 1/11

100
50
+
1
11
=
23
11
© 2014 Randy Tayler