math help

What is 22/60 + 3/9?

What is 22/60 + 3/9?

This is how we add

22
60
+
3
9

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 9, and get 198, then we multiply 60 by 9 and get 540.

22/60 times 9

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 3 by 60, and get 180, then multiply 60 by 9 and get 540.

3/9 times 60

The problem now has new fractions to add:

198
540
+
180
540

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

198 + 180 = 378

The sum we get is

378
540

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:

378
540
÷ 2 =
189
270

Now, try the same number again.

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

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

189
270
÷ 3 =
63
90

Now, try the same number again.

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

63
90
÷ 3 =
21
30

Now, try the same number again.

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

21
30
÷ 3 =
7
10

Now, try the same number again.

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

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

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

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

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 22/60 + 3/9

22
60
+
3
9
=
7
10
© 2014 Randy Tayler