math help

What is 49/9 + 1/7?

What is 49/9 + 1/7?

This is how we add

49
9
+
1
7

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 49 by 7, and get 343, then we multiply 9 by 7 and get 63.

49/9 times 7

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 1 by 9, and get 9, then multiply 9 by 7 and get 63.

1/7 times 9

The problem now has new fractions to add:

343
63
+
9
63

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

343 + 9 = 352

This yields the answer

352
63

Step 3

The last step is to reduce the fraction if we can.

To find out, we try dividing it by 2...

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

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...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 17...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 19...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 23...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 29...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 31...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 37...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 41...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 43...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 47...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 53...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 59...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 61...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 67...

No good. 67 is larger than 63. So we're done reducing.

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 49/9 + 1/7

49
9
+
1
7
=
352
63
© 2014 Randy Tayler