math help

What is 60/60 + 5/9?

What is 60/60 + 5/9?

Let's add

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

60/60 times 9

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 5 by 60, and get 300, then multiply 60 by 9 and get 540.

5/9 times 60

The problem now has new fractions to add:

540
540
+
300
540

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

540 + 300 = 840

The sum we get is

840
540

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
540
÷ 2 =
420
270

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
270
÷ 2 =
210
135

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
135
÷ 3 =
70
45

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
45
÷ 5 =
14
9

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. 11 is larger than 9. So we're done reducing.

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 60/60 + 5/9

60
60
+
5
9
=
14
9
© 2014 Randy Tayler