math help

What is 57/7 + 3/8?

What is 57/7 + 3/8?

Here's how you add

57
7
+
3
8

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 57 by 8, and get 456, then we multiply 7 by 8 and get 56.

57/7 times 8

Now for the second term. You multiply 3 by 7, and get 21, then multiply 7 by 8 and get 56.

3/8 times 7

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

456
56
+
21
56

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

456 + 21 = 477

Answer:

477
56

Step 3

Now, do we need to simplify this fraction?

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

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 3...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 5...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 7...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 11...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 13...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 17...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 19...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 23...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 29...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 31...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 37...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 41...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 43...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 47...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 53...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 59...

No good. 59 is larger than 56. So we're done reducing.

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 57/7 + 3/8

57
7
+
3
8
=
477
56
© 2014 Randy Tayler