math help

What is 21/11 + 6/9?

What is 21/11 + 6/9?

Here's how you add

21
11
+
6
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 21 by 9, and get 189, then we multiply 11 by 9 and get 99.

21/11 times 9

Now for the second term. You multiply 6 by 11, and get 66, then multiply 11 by 9 and get 99.

6/9 times 11

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

189
99
+
66
99

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

189 + 66 = 255

That gives us the sum, which is

255
99

Step 3

Now, do we need to simplify this fraction?

First, we attempt to divide it by 2...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 3...

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 3? Yes! So we reduce it:

255
99
÷ 3 =
85
33

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 5...

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. So next you try the next prime number, which is 17...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 19...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 23...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 29...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 31...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 37...

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

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 21/11 + 6/9

21
11
+
6
9
=
85
33
© 2014 Randy Tayler