math help

What is 60/60 + 6/8?

What is 60/60 + 6/8?

Let's add

60
60
+
6
8

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 8, and get 480, then we multiply 60 by 8 and get 480.

60/60 times 8

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 6 by 60, and get 360, then multiply 60 by 8 and get 480.

6/8 times 60

The problem now has new fractions to add:

480
480
+
360
480

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

480 + 360 = 840

The sum we get is

840
480

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
480
÷ 2 =
420
240

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
240
÷ 2 =
210
120

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:

210
120
÷ 2 =
105
60

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:

105
60
÷ 3 =
35
20

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:

35
20
÷ 5 =
7
4

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

No good. 5 is larger than 4. So we're done reducing.

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 60/60 + 6/8

60
60
+
6
8
=
7
4
© 2014 Randy Tayler