math help

What is 21/63 + 7/8?

What is 21/63 + 7/8?

Let's add

21
63
+
7
8

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 8, and get 168, then we multiply 63 by 8 and get 504.

21/63 times 8

Now for the second term. You multiply 7 by 63, and get 441, then multiply 63 by 8 and get 504.

7/8 times 63

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

168
504
+
441
504

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

168 + 441 = 609

Answer:

609
504

Step 3

Now, do we need to simplify this fraction?

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

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 3...

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

609
504
÷ 3 =
203
168

Let's try dividing by that again...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 5...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 7...

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 7? Yes! So we reduce it:

203
168
÷ 7 =
29
24

Let's try dividing by that again...

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...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 29...

No good. 29 is larger than 24. So we're done reducing.

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 21/63 + 7/8

21
63
+
7
8
=
29
24
© 2014 Randy Tayler