math help

What is 22/60 + 4/8?

What is 22/60 + 4/8?

This is how we add

22
60
+
4
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 60 by 8 and get 480.

22/60 times 8

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 4 by 60, and get 240, then multiply 60 by 8 and get 480.

4/8 times 60

The problem now has new fractions to add:

176
480
+
240
480

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

176 + 240 = 416

The sum we get is

416
480

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:

416
480
÷ 2 =
208
240

Now, try the same number again.

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

208
240
÷ 2 =
104
120

Now, try the same number again.

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

104
120
÷ 2 =
52
60

Now, try the same number again.

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

52
60
÷ 2 =
26
30

Now, try the same number again.

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

26
30
÷ 2 =
13
15

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...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 13...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 17...

No good. 17 is larger than 13. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 22/60 + 4/8

22
60
+
4
8
=
13
15
© 2014 Randy Tayler