math help

What is 56/60 + 3/11?

What is 56/60 + 3/11?

Here's how we add

56
60
+
3
11

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 11, and get 616, then we multiply 60 by 11 and get 660.

56/60 times 11

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 3 by 60, and get 180, then multiply 60 by 11 and get 660.

3/11 times 60

The problem now has new fractions to add:

616
660
+
180
660

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

616 + 180 = 796

This yields the answer

796
660

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:

796
660
÷ 2 =
398
330

Now, try the same number again.

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

398
330
÷ 2 =
199
165

Now, try the same number again.

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...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 71...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 73...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 79...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 83...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 89...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 97...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 101...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 103...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 107...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 109...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 113...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 127...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 131...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 137...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 139...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 149...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 151...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 157...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 163...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 167...

No good. 167 is larger than 165. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 56/60 + 3/11

56
60
+
3
11
=
199
165
© 2014 Randy Tayler