math help

What is 63/58 + 3/6?

What is 63/58 + 3/6?

Here's how we add

63
58
+
3
6

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 63 by 6, and get 378, then we multiply 58 by 6 and get 348.

63/58 times 6

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 3 by 58, and get 174, then multiply 58 by 6 and get 348.

3/6 times 58

The problem now has new fractions to add:

378
348
+
174
348

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

378 + 174 = 552

This yields the answer

552
348

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:

552
348
÷ 2 =
276
174

Now, try the same number again.

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

276
174
÷ 2 =
138
87

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:

138
87
÷ 3 =
46
29

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...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 31...

No good. 31 is larger than 29. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 63/58 + 3/6

63
58
+
3
6
=
46
29
© 2014 Randy Tayler