math help

What is 56/60 + 6/9?

What is 56/60 + 6/9?

Here's how you add

56
60
+
6
9

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 9, and get 504, then we multiply 60 by 9 and get 540.

56/60 times 9

Now for the second term. You multiply 6 by 60, and get 360, then multiply 60 by 9 and get 540.

6/9 times 60

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

504
540
+
360
540

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

504 + 360 = 864

Answer:

864
540

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:

864
540
÷ 2 =
432
270

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

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

432
270
÷ 2 =
216
135

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 3...

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

216
135
÷ 3 =
72
45

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

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

72
45
÷ 3 =
24
15

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

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

24
15
÷ 3 =
8
5

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 5...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 7...

No good. 7 is larger than 5. So we're done reducing.

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 56/60 + 6/9

56
60
+
6
9
=
8
5
© 2014 Randy Tayler