math help

What is 60/48 + 3/7?

What is 60/48 + 3/7?

This is how to add

60
48
+
3
7

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 7, and get 420, then we multiply 48 by 7 and get 336.

60/48 times 7

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 3 by 48, and get 144, then multiply 48 by 7 and get 336.

3/7 times 48

The problem now has new fractions to add:

420
336
+
144
336

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

420 + 144 = 564

The sum we get is

564
336

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:

564
336
÷ 2 =
282
168

Now, try the same number again.

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

282
168
÷ 2 =
141
84

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:

141
84
÷ 3 =
47
28

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...

No good. 29 is larger than 28. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 60/48 + 3/7

60
48
+
3
7
=
47
28
© 2014 Randy Tayler