math help

What is 45/3 + 4/11?

What is 45/3 + 4/11?

Here's how to add

45
3
+
4
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 45 by 11, and get 495, then we multiply 3 by 11 and get 33.

45/3 times 11

Now for the second term. You multiply 4 by 3, and get 12, then multiply 3 by 11 and get 33.

4/11 times 3

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

495
33
+
12
33

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

495 + 12 = 507

That gives us the sum, which is

507
33

Step 3

Now, do we need to simplify this fraction?

First, we attempt to divide it by 2...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 3...

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

507
33
÷ 3 =
169
11

Let's try dividing by that again...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 5...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 7...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 11...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 13...

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

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 45/3 + 4/11

45
3
+
4
11
=
169
11
© 2014 Randy Tayler