math help

What is 22/60 + 3/5?

What is 22/60 + 3/5?

This is how to add

22
60
+
3
5

Step 1

Now we need to make our denominators match.

Since 5 is evenly divided by 60, we can multiply just one term to get a common denominator.

Multiply 3 by 12, and get 36, then we multiply 5 by 12 and get 60.

3/5 times 12

The problem now has new fractions to add:

22
60
+
36
60

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

22 + 36 = 58

This yields the answer

58
60

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:

58
60
÷ 2 =
29
30

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...

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

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 31...

No good. 31 is larger than 29. So we're done reducing.

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 22/60 + 3/5

22
60
+
3
5
=
29
30
© 2014 Randy Tayler