math help

What is 24/5 + 6/11?

What is 24/5 + 6/11?

Here's how we add

24
5
+
6
11

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 24 by 11, and get 264, then we multiply 5 by 11 and get 55.

24/5 times 11

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 6 by 5, and get 30, then multiply 5 by 11 and get 55.

6/11 times 5

The problem now has new fractions to add:

264
55
+
30
55

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

264 + 30 = 294

The sum we get is

294
55

Step 3

The last step is to reduce the fraction if we can.

To find out, we try dividing it by 2...

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...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 19...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 23...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 29...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 31...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 37...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 41...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 43...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 47...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 53...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 59...

No good. 59 is larger than 55. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 24/5 + 6/11

24
5
+
6
11
=
294
55
© 2014 Randy Tayler