math help

What is 15/60 + 1/3?

What is 15/60 + 1/3?

This is how you add

15
60
+
1
3

Step 1

Our denominators (bottom numbers) don't match, so we can't add yet.

60 goes into 3 evenly, so we only need to multiply one term to get a common denominator.

Multiply 1 by 20, and get 20, then we multiply 3 by 20 and get 60.

1/3 times 20

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

15
60
+
20
60

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

15 + 20 = 35

That gives us the sum, which is

35
60

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...

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

35
60
÷ 5 =
7
12

Now, try the same number again.

Nope. Try the next prime number, 7...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 11...

No good. 11 is larger than 7. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 15/60 + 1/3

15
60
+
1
3
=
7
12
© 2014 Randy Tayler