math help

What is 56/60 + 5/6?

What is 56/60 + 5/6?

Let's add

56
60
+
5
6

Step 1

Our denominators (bottom numbers) don't match, so we can't add yet.

60 goes into 6 evenly, so we only need to multiply one term to get a common denominator.

Multiply 5 by 10, and get 50, then we multiply 6 by 10 and get 60.

5/6 times 10

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

56
60
+
50
60

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

56 + 50 = 106

That gives us the sum, which is

106
60

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:

106
60
÷ 2 =
53
30

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...

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

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 56/60 + 5/6

56
60
+
5
6
=
53
30
© 2014 Randy Tayler