math help

What is 56/60 + 5/9?

What is 56/60 + 5/9?

Here's how we add

56
60
+
5
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 5 by 60, and get 300, then multiply 60 by 9 and get 540.

5/9 times 60

The problem now has new fractions to add:

504
540
+
300
540

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

504 + 300 = 804

This yields the answer

804
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:

804
540
÷ 2 =
402
270

Now, try the same number again.

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

402
270
÷ 2 =
201
135

Now, try the same number again.

Nope. Try the next prime number, 3...

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

201
135
÷ 3 =
67
45

Now, try the same number again.

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...

No good. 47 is larger than 45. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 56/60 + 5/9

56
60
+
5
9
=
67
45
© 2014 Randy Tayler