math help

What is 4/52 + 7/11?

What is 4/52 + 7/11?

Here's how we add

4
52
+
7
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 4 by 11, and get 44, then we multiply 52 by 11 and get 572.

4/52 times 11

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 7 by 52, and get 364, then multiply 52 by 11 and get 572.

7/11 times 52

The problem now has new fractions to add:

44
572
+
364
572

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

44 + 364 = 408

This yields the answer

408
572

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:

408
572
÷ 2 =
204
286

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 2? Yes! So we reduce it:

204
286
÷ 2 =
102
143

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 3...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 5...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 7...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 11...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 13...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 17...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 19...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 23...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 29...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 31...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 37...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 41...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 43...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 47...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 53...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 59...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 61...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 67...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 71...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 73...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 79...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 83...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 89...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 97...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 101...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 103...

No good. 103 is larger than 102. So we're done reducing.

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 4/52 + 7/11

4
52
+
7
11
=
102
143
© 2014 Randy Tayler