math help

What is 50/8 + 1/11?

What is 50/8 + 1/11?

Here's how to add

50
8
+
1
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 50 by 11, and get 550, then we multiply 8 by 11 and get 88.

50/8 times 11

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 1 by 8, and get 8, then multiply 8 by 11 and get 88.

1/11 times 8

The problem now has new fractions to add:

550
88
+
8
88

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

550 + 8 = 558

The sum we get is

558
88

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:

558
88
÷ 2 =
279
44

Now, try the same number again.

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

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...

No good. 47 is larger than 44. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 50/8 + 1/11

50
8
+
1
11
=
279
44
© 2014 Randy Tayler