math help

What is 10/11 + 6/8?

What is 10/11 + 6/8?

Here's how to add

10
11
+
6
8

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 10 by 8, and get 80, then we multiply 11 by 8 and get 88.

10/11 times 8

Now for the second term. You multiply 6 by 11, and get 66, then multiply 11 by 8 and get 88.

6/8 times 11

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

80
88
+
66
88

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

80 + 66 = 146

Answer:

146
88

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:

146
88
÷ 2 =
73
44

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...

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. So next you try the next prime number, which is 17...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 19...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 23...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 29...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 31...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 37...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 41...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 43...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 47...

No good. 47 is larger than 44. So we're done reducing.

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 10/11 + 6/8

10
11
+
6
8
=
73
44
© 2014 Randy Tayler