math help

What is 60/60 + 3/11?

What is 60/60 + 3/11?

Let's add

60
60
+
3
11

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 11, and get 660, then we multiply 60 by 11 and get 660.

60/60 times 11

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 3 by 60, and get 180, then multiply 60 by 11 and get 660.

3/11 times 60

The problem now has new fractions to add:

660
660
+
180
660

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

660 + 180 = 840

The sum we get is

840
660

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:

840
660
÷ 2 =
420
330

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

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

420
330
÷ 2 =
210
165

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 3...

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

210
165
÷ 3 =
70
55

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 5...

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 5? Yes! So we reduce it:

70
55
÷ 5 =
14
11

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 7...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 11...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 13...

No good. 13 is larger than 11. So we're done reducing.

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 60/60 + 3/11

60
60
+
3
11
=
14
11
© 2014 Randy Tayler