math help

What is 48/30 + 5/11?

What is 48/30 + 5/11?

This is how we add

48
30
+
5
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 48 by 11, and get 528, then we multiply 30 by 11 and get 330.

48/30 times 11

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 5 by 30, and get 150, then multiply 30 by 11 and get 330.

5/11 times 30

The problem now has new fractions to add:

528
330
+
150
330

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

528 + 150 = 678

The sum we get is

678
330

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:

678
330
÷ 2 =
339
165

Now, try the same number again.

Nope. Try the next prime number, 3...

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

339
165
÷ 3 =
113
55

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...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 59...

No good. 59 is larger than 55. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 48/30 + 5/11

48
30
+
5
11
=
113
55
© 2014 Randy Tayler