math help

What is 56/60 + 1/9?

What is 56/60 + 1/9?

Here's how to add

56
60
+
1
9

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 9, and get 504, then we multiply 60 by 9 and get 540.

56/60 times 9

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 1 by 60, and get 60, then multiply 60 by 9 and get 540.

1/9 times 60

The problem now has new fractions to add:

504
540
+
60
540

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

504 + 60 = 564

The sum we get is

564
540

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:

564
540
÷ 2 =
282
270

Let's try dividing by that again...

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

282
270
÷ 2 =
141
135

Let's try dividing by that again...

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

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 3? Yes! So we reduce it:

141
135
÷ 3 =
47
45

Let's try dividing by that again...

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 45. So we're done reducing.

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 56/60 + 1/9

56
60
+
1
9
=
47
45
© 2014 Randy Tayler