math help

What is 36/4 + 8/11?

What is 36/4 + 8/11?

This is how we add

36
4
+
8
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 36 by 11, and get 396, then we multiply 4 by 11 and get 44.

36/4 times 11

Now for the second term. You multiply 8 by 4, and get 32, then multiply 4 by 11 and get 44.

8/11 times 4

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

396
44
+
32
44

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

396 + 32 = 428

Answer:

428
44

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:

428
44
÷ 2 =
214
22

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

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

214
22
÷ 2 =
107
11

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...

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. 13 is larger than 11. So we're done reducing.

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 36/4 + 8/11

36
4
+
8
11
=
107
11
© 2014 Randy Tayler