math help

What is 53/9 + 1/7?

What is 53/9 + 1/7?

Here's how to add

53
9
+
1
7

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 53 by 7, and get 371, then we multiply 9 by 7 and get 63.

53/9 times 7

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 1 by 9, and get 9, then multiply 9 by 7 and get 63.

1/7 times 9

The problem now has new fractions to add:

371
63
+
9
63

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

371 + 9 = 380

The sum we get is

380
63

Step 3

The last step is to reduce the fraction if we can.

To find out, we try dividing it by 2...

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...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 53...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 59...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 61...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 67...

No good. 67 is larger than 63. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 53/9 + 1/7

53
9
+
1
7
=
380
63
© 2014 Randy Tayler