math help

What is 50/8 + 6/11?

What is 50/8 + 6/11?

Here's how you add

50
8
+
6
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 6 by 8, and get 48, then multiply 8 by 11 and get 88.

6/11 times 8

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

550
88
+
48
88

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

550 + 48 = 598

Answer:

598
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:

598
88
÷ 2 =
299
44

Let's try dividing by that again...

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...

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

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 50/8 + 6/11

50
8
+
6
11
=
299
44
© 2014 Randy Tayler