math help

What is 31/12 + 1/11?

What is 31/12 + 1/11?

This is how to add

31
12
+
1
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 31 by 11, and get 341, then we multiply 12 by 11 and get 132.

31/12 times 11

Now for the second term. You multiply 1 by 12, and get 12, then multiply 12 by 11 and get 132.

1/11 times 12

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

341
132
+
12
132

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

341 + 12 = 353

That gives us the sum, which is

353
132

Step 3

Now, do we need to simplify this fraction?

First, we attempt to divide 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...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 61...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 67...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 71...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 73...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 79...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 83...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 89...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 97...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 101...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 103...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 107...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 109...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 113...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 127...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 131...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 137...

No good. 137 is larger than 132. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 31/12 + 1/11

31
12
+
1
11
=
353
132
© 2014 Randy Tayler