math help

What is 22/22 + 6/8?

What is 22/22 + 6/8?

This is how you add

22
22
+
6
8

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 22 by 8, and get 176, then we multiply 22 by 8 and get 176.

22/22 times 8

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 6 by 22, and get 132, then multiply 22 by 8 and get 176.

6/8 times 22

The problem now has new fractions to add:

176
176
+
132
176

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

176 + 132 = 308

This yields the answer

308
176

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:

308
176
÷ 2 =
154
88

Now, try the same number again.

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

154
88
÷ 2 =
77
44

Now, try the same number again.

Nope. Try the next prime number, 3...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 5...

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

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

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 11? Yes! So we reduce it:

77
44
÷ 11 =
7
4

Now, try the same number again.

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

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 22/22 + 6/8

22
22
+
6
8
=
7
4
© 2014 Randy Tayler