math help

What is 22/60 + 4/9?

What is 22/60 + 4/9?

Here's how we add

22
60
+
4
9

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

22/60 times 9

Now for the second term. You multiply 4 by 60, and get 240, then multiply 60 by 9 and get 540.

4/9 times 60

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

198
540
+
240
540

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

198 + 240 = 438

That gives us the sum, which is

438
540

Step 3

Now, do we need to simplify this fraction?

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

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

438
540
÷ 2 =
219
270

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 3...

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

219
270
÷ 3 =
73
90

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 5...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 7...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 11...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 13...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 17...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 19...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 23...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 29...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 31...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 37...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 41...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 43...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 47...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 53...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 59...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 61...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 67...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 71...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 73...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 79...

No good. 79 is larger than 73. So we're done reducing.

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 22/60 + 4/9

22
60
+
4
9
=
73
90
© 2014 Randy Tayler