math help

What is 36/4 + 7/11?

What is 36/4 + 7/11?

This is how you add

36
4
+
7
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 36 by 11, and get 396, then we multiply 4 by 11 and get 44.

36/4 times 11

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 7 by 4, and get 28, then multiply 4 by 11 and get 44.

7/11 times 4

The problem now has new fractions to add:

396
44
+
28
44

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

396 + 28 = 424

This yields the answer

424
44

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:

424
44
÷ 2 =
212
22

Now, try the same number again.

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 2? Yes! So we reduce it:

212
22
÷ 2 =
106
11

Now, try the same number again.

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...

No good. 13 is larger than 11. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 36/4 + 7/11

36
4
+
7
11
=
106
11
© 2014 Randy Tayler