math help

What is 30/50 + 3/11?

What is 30/50 + 3/11?

This is how we add

30
50
+
3
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 30 by 11, and get 330, then we multiply 50 by 11 and get 550.

30/50 times 11

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 3 by 50, and get 150, then multiply 50 by 11 and get 550.

3/11 times 50

The problem now has new fractions to add:

330
550
+
150
550

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

330 + 150 = 480

The sum we get is

480
550

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:

480
550
÷ 2 =
240
275

Now, try the same number again.

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

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

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

240
275
÷ 5 =
48
55

Now, try the same number again.

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...

No good. 53 is larger than 48. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 30/50 + 3/11

30
50
+
3
11
=
48
55
© 2014 Randy Tayler