math help

What is 30/50 + 1/6?

What is 30/50 + 1/6?

This is how we add

30
50
+
1
6

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 30 by 6, and get 180, then we multiply 50 by 6 and get 300.

30/50 times 6

Now for the second term. You multiply 1 by 50, and get 50, then multiply 50 by 6 and get 300.

1/6 times 50

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

180
300
+
50
300

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

180 + 50 = 230

That gives us the sum, which is

230
300

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:

230
300
÷ 2 =
115
150

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...

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 5? Yes! So we reduce it:

115
150
÷ 5 =
23
30

Let's try dividing by that again...

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...

No good. 29 is larger than 23. So we're done reducing.

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 30/50 + 1/6

30
50
+
1
6
=
23
30
© 2014 Randy Tayler