math help

What is 56/60 + 6/8?

What is 56/60 + 6/8?

Here's how we add

56
60
+
6
8

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 8, and get 448, then we multiply 60 by 8 and get 480.

56/60 times 8

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 6 by 60, and get 360, then multiply 60 by 8 and get 480.

6/8 times 60

The problem now has new fractions to add:

448
480
+
360
480

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

448 + 360 = 808

This yields the answer

808
480

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:

808
480
÷ 2 =
404
240

Now, try the same number again.

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

404
240
÷ 2 =
202
120

Now, try the same number again.

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

202
120
÷ 2 =
101
60

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...

No good. 61 is larger than 60. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 56/60 + 6/8

56
60
+
6
8
=
101
60
© 2014 Randy Tayler