math help

What is 50/8 + 9/11?

What is 50/8 + 9/11?

Let's add

50
8
+
9
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 9 by 8, and get 72, then multiply 8 by 11 and get 88.

9/11 times 8

The problem now has new fractions to add:

550
88
+
72
88

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

550 + 72 = 622

The sum we get is

622
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:

622
88
÷ 2 =
311
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 + 9/11

50
8
+
9
11
=
311
44
© 2014 Randy Tayler