math help

What is 16/48 + 3/11?

What is 16/48 + 3/11?

Let's add

16
48
+
3
11

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 16 by 11, and get 176, then we multiply 48 by 11 and get 528.

16/48 times 11

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 3 by 48, and get 144, then multiply 48 by 11 and get 528.

3/11 times 48

The problem now has new fractions to add:

176
528
+
144
528

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

176 + 144 = 320

The sum we get is

320
528

Step 3

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

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

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 2? Yes! So we reduce it:

320
528
÷ 2 =
160
264

Let's try dividing by that again...

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 2? Yes! So we reduce it:

160
264
÷ 2 =
80
132

Let's try dividing by that again...

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 2? Yes! So we reduce it:

80
132
÷ 2 =
40
66

Let's try dividing by that again...

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 2? Yes! So we reduce it:

40
66
÷ 2 =
20
33

Let's try dividing by that again...

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...

No good. 23 is larger than 20. So we're done reducing.

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 16/48 + 3/11

16
48
+
3
11
=
20
33
© 2014 Randy Tayler