math help

What is 55/55 + 3/5?

What is 55/55 + 3/5?

This is how to add

55
55
+
3
5

Step 1

Our denominators (bottom numbers) don't match, so we can't add yet.

Since 5 is evenly divided by 55, we can multiply just one term to get a common denominator.

Multiply 3 by 11, and get 33, then we multiply 5 by 11 and get 55.

3/5 times 11

The problem now has new fractions to add:

55
55
+
33
55

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

55 + 33 = 88

The sum we get is

88
55

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...

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 11? Yes! So we reduce it:

88
55
÷ 11 =
8
5

Now, try the same number again.

No good. 11 is larger than 8. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 55/55 + 3/5

55
55
+
3
5
=
8
5
© 2014 Randy Tayler