math help

What is 55/55 + 5/11?

What is 55/55 + 5/11?

Here's how to add

55
55
+
5
11

Step 1

Now we need to make our denominators match.

Since 11 is evenly divided by 55, we can multiply just one term to get a common denominator.

Multiply 5 by 5, and get 25, then we multiply 11 by 5 and get 55.

5/11 times 5

The problem now has new fractions to add:

55
55
+
25
55

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

55 + 25 = 80

The sum we get is

80
55

Step 3

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

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

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 3...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 5...

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 5? Yes! So we reduce it:

80
55
÷ 5 =
16
11

Let's try dividing by that again...

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...

No good. 13 is larger than 11. So we're done reducing.

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 55/55 + 5/11

55
55
+
5
11
=
16
11
© 2014 Randy Tayler