math help

What is 57/7 + 5/9?

What is 57/7 + 5/9?

Let's add

57
7
+
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 57 by 9, and get 513, then we multiply 7 by 9 and get 63.

57/7 times 9

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 5 by 7, and get 35, then multiply 7 by 9 and get 63.

5/9 times 7

The problem now has new fractions to add:

513
63
+
35
63

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

513 + 35 = 548

The sum we get is

548
63

Step 3

The last step is to reduce the fraction if we can.

To find out, we try dividing 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...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 61...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 67...

No good. 67 is larger than 63. So we're done reducing.

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 57/7 + 5/9

57
7
+
5
9
=
548
63
© 2014 Randy Tayler