math help

What is 100/50 + 6/11?

What is 100/50 + 6/11?

This is how to add

100
50
+
6
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 100 by 11, and get 1100, then we multiply 50 by 11 and get 550.

100/50 times 11

Now for the second term. You multiply 6 by 50, and get 300, then multiply 50 by 11 and get 550.

6/11 times 50

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

1100
550
+
300
550

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

1100 + 300 = 1400

That gives us the sum, which is

1400
550

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:

1400
550
÷ 2 =
700
275

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 3...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 5...

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

700
275
÷ 5 =
140
55

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

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

140
55
÷ 5 =
28
11

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 7...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 11...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 13...

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

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 100/50 + 6/11

100
50
+
6
11
=
28
11
© 2014 Randy Tayler