math help

What is 50/8 + 2/11?

What is 50/8 + 2/11?

Let's add

50
8
+
2
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 50 by 11, and get 550, then we multiply 8 by 11 and get 88.

50/8 times 11

Now for the second term. You multiply 2 by 8, and get 16, then multiply 8 by 11 and get 88.

2/11 times 8

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

550
88
+
16
88

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

550 + 16 = 566

That gives us the sum, which is

566
88

Step 3

Now, do we need to simplify this fraction?

First, we attempt to divide it by 2...

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

566
88
÷ 2 =
283
44

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. 47 is larger than 44. So we're done reducing.

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 50/8 + 2/11

50
8
+
2
11
=
283
44
© 2014 Randy Tayler