math help

What is 30/50 + 4/11?

What is 30/50 + 4/11?

Here's how we add

30
50
+
4
11

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

30/50 times 11

Now for the second term. You multiply 4 by 50, and get 200, then multiply 50 by 11 and get 550.

4/11 times 50

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

330
550
+
200
550

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

330 + 200 = 530

That gives us the sum, which is

530
550

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:

530
550
÷ 2 =
265
275

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...

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

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

265
275
÷ 5 =
53
55

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 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. 59 is larger than 53. So we're done reducing.

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 30/50 + 4/11

30
50
+
4
11
=
53
55
© 2014 Randy Tayler