math help

What is 50/8 + 6/7?

What is 50/8 + 6/7?

Let's add

50
8
+
6
7

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 7, and get 350, then we multiply 8 by 7 and get 56.

50/8 times 7

Now for the second term. You multiply 6 by 8, and get 48, then multiply 8 by 7 and get 56.

6/7 times 8

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

350
56
+
48
56

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

350 + 48 = 398

That gives us the sum, which is

398
56

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:

398
56
÷ 2 =
199
28

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. 29 is larger than 28. So we're done reducing.

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 50/8 + 6/7

50
8
+
6
7
=
199
28
© 2014 Randy Tayler