math help

What is 56/48 + 1/5?

What is 56/48 + 1/5?

Here's how you add

56
48
+
1
5

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 56 by 5, and get 280, then we multiply 48 by 5 and get 240.

56/48 times 5

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 1 by 48, and get 48, then multiply 48 by 5 and get 240.

1/5 times 48

The problem now has new fractions to add:

280
240
+
48
240

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

280 + 48 = 328

The sum we get is

328
240

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:

328
240
÷ 2 =
164
120

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 2? Yes! So we reduce it:

164
120
÷ 2 =
82
60

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 2? Yes! So we reduce it:

82
60
÷ 2 =
41
30

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. So next you try the next prime number, which is 31...

No good. 31 is larger than 30. So we're done reducing.

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 56/48 + 1/5

56
48
+
1
5
=
41
30
© 2014 Randy Tayler