math help

What is 60/48 + 1/9?

What is 60/48 + 1/9?

This is how to add

60
48
+
1
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 60 by 9, and get 540, then we multiply 48 by 9 and get 432.

60/48 times 9

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 1 by 48, and get 48, then multiply 48 by 9 and get 432.

1/9 times 48

The problem now has new fractions to add:

540
432
+
48
432

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

540 + 48 = 588

The sum we get is

588
432

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:

588
432
÷ 2 =
294
216

Now, try the same number again.

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

294
216
÷ 2 =
147
108

Now, try the same number again.

Nope. Try the next prime number, 3...

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

147
108
÷ 3 =
49
36

Now, try the same number again.

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...

No good. 37 is larger than 36. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 60/48 + 1/9

60
48
+
1
9
=
49
36
© 2014 Randy Tayler