math help

What is 34/3 + 6/7?

What is 34/3 + 6/7?

Let's add

34
3
+
6
7

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 34 by 7, and get 238, then we multiply 3 by 7 and get 21.

34/3 times 7

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 6 by 3, and get 18, then multiply 3 by 7 and get 21.

6/7 times 3

The problem now has new fractions to add:

238
21
+
18
21

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

238 + 18 = 256

This yields the answer

256
21

Step 3

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

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

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...

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. 23 is larger than 21. So we're done reducing.

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 34/3 + 6/7

34
3
+
6
7
=
256
21
© 2014 Randy Tayler