math help

What is 15/11 + 8/9?

What is 15/11 + 8/9?

Let's add

15
11
+
8
9

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 15 by 9, and get 135, then we multiply 11 by 9 and get 99.

15/11 times 9

Now for the second term. You multiply 8 by 11, and get 88, then multiply 11 by 9 and get 99.

8/9 times 11

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

135
99
+
88
99

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

135 + 88 = 223

Answer:

223
99

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...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 83...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 89...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 97...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 101...

No good. 101 is larger than 99. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 15/11 + 8/9

15
11
+
8
9
=
223
99
© 2014 Randy Tayler