math help

What is 64/16 + 3/11?

What is 64/16 + 3/11?

This is how we add

64
16
+
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 64 by 11, and get 704, then we multiply 16 by 11 and get 176.

64/16 times 11

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 3 by 16, and get 48, then multiply 16 by 11 and get 176.

3/11 times 16

The problem now has new fractions to add:

704
176
+
48
176

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

704 + 48 = 752

The sum we get is

752
176

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:

752
176
÷ 2 =
376
88

Now, try the same number again.

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

376
88
÷ 2 =
188
44

Now, try the same number again.

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

188
44
÷ 2 =
94
22

Now, try the same number again.

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

94
22
÷ 2 =
47
11

Now, try the same number again.

Nope. Try the next prime number, 3...

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...

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

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 64/16 + 3/11

64
16
+
3
11
=
47
11
© 2014 Randy Tayler