math help

What is 5/7 + 8/11?

What is 5/7 + 8/11?

This is how we add

5
7
+
8
11

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 5 by 11, and get 55, then we multiply 7 by 11 and get 77.

5/7 times 11

Now for the second term. You multiply 8 by 7, and get 56, then multiply 7 by 11 and get 77.

8/11 times 7

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

55
77
+
56
77

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

55 + 56 = 111

That gives us the sum, which is

111
77

Step 3

Now, do we need to simplify this fraction?

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

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...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 67...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 71...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 73...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 79...

No good. 79 is larger than 77. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 5/7 + 8/11

5
7
+
8
11
=
111
77
© 2014 Randy Tayler