math help

What is 45/3 + 8/11?

What is 45/3 + 8/11?

Here's how we add

45
3
+
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 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 8 by 3, and get 24, then multiply 3 by 11 and get 33.

8/11 times 3

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

495
33
+
24
33

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

495 + 24 = 519

Answer:

519
33

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:

519
33
÷ 3 =
173
11

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...

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

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 45/3 + 8/11

45
3
+
8
11
=
173
11
© 2014 Randy Tayler