math help

What is 15/60 + 5/6?

What is 15/60 + 5/6?

This is how you add

15
60
+
5
6

Step 1

We have to make sure the denominators are equal.

Since 6 is evenly divided by 60, we can multiply just one term to get a common denominator.

Multiply 5 by 10, and get 50, then we multiply 6 by 10 and get 60.

5/6 times 10

The problem now has new fractions to add:

15
60
+
50
60

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

15 + 50 = 65

The sum we get is

65
60

Step 3

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

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

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:

65
60
÷ 5 =
13
12

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 12. So we're done reducing.

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 15/60 + 5/6

15
60
+
5
6
=
13
12
© 2014 Randy Tayler