math help

What is 3/24 + 5/11?

What is 3/24 + 5/11?

Let's add

3
24
+
5
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 3 by 11, and get 33, then we multiply 24 by 11 and get 264.

3/24 times 11

Now for the second term. You multiply 5 by 24, and get 120, then multiply 24 by 11 and get 264.

5/11 times 24

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

33
264
+
120
264

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

33 + 120 = 153

Answer:

153
264

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...

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 3? Yes! So we reduce it:

153
264
÷ 3 =
51
88

Now, try the same number again.

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...

No good. 53 is larger than 51. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 3/24 + 5/11

3
24
+
5
11
=
51
88
© 2014 Randy Tayler