math help

What is 60/60 + 7/11?

What is 60/60 + 7/11?

Here's how you add

60
60
+
7
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 7 by 60, and get 420, then multiply 60 by 11 and get 660.

7/11 times 60

The problem now has new fractions to add:

660
660
+
420
660

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

660 + 420 = 1080

This yields the answer

1080
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:

1080
660
÷ 2 =
540
330

Let's try dividing by that again...

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

540
330
÷ 2 =
270
165

Let's try dividing by that again...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 3...

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

270
165
÷ 3 =
90
55

Let's try dividing by that again...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 5...

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

90
55
÷ 5 =
18
11

Let's try dividing by that again...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 7...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 11...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 13...

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

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 60/60 + 7/11

60
60
+
7
11
=
18
11
© 2014 Randy Tayler