math help

What is 15/11 + 1/3?

What is 15/11 + 1/3?

This is how you add

15
11
+
1
3

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 15 by 3, and get 45, then we multiply 11 by 3 and get 33.

15/11 times 3

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 1 by 11, and get 11, then multiply 11 by 3 and get 33.

1/3 times 11

The problem now has new fractions to add:

45
33
+
11
33

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

45 + 11 = 56

The sum we get is

56
33

Step 3

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

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

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

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

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...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 17...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 19...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 23...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 29...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 31...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 37...

No good. 37 is larger than 33. So we're done reducing.

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 15/11 + 1/3

15
11
+
1
3
=
56
33
© 2014 Randy Tayler