math help

What is 56/60 + 4/7?

What is 56/60 + 4/7?

Let's add

56
60
+
4
7

Step 1

Can you add yet? Nope! The denominators don't match. We need a common denominator. So next we take both denominators and multiply them. Next, take each numerator and multiply it by the denominator of the other term.

So, we multiply 56 by 7, and get 392, then we multiply 60 by 7 and get 420.

56/60 times 7

Now for the second term. You multiply 4 by 60, and get 240, then multiply 60 by 7 and get 420.

4/7 times 60

We now have a new problem, that looks like this:

392
420
+
240
420

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

392 + 240 = 632

That gives us the sum, which is

632
420

Step 3

Now, do we need to simplify this fraction?

First, we attempt to divide it by 2...

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

632
420
÷ 2 =
316
210

Now, try the same number again.

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

316
210
÷ 2 =
158
105

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...

No good. 107 is larger than 105. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 56/60 + 4/7

56
60
+
4
7
=
158
105
© 2014 Randy Tayler