math help

What is 64/16 + 4/11?

What is 64/16 + 4/11?

Here's how we add

64
16
+
4
11

Step 1

Can you add yet? Nope! The denominators don't match. We need a common denominator. So next we take both denominators and multiply them. Next, take each numerator and multiply it by the denominator of the other term.

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

64/16 times 11

Now for the second term. You multiply 4 by 16, and get 64, then multiply 16 by 11 and get 176.

4/11 times 16

We now have a new problem, that looks like this:

704
176
+
64
176

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

704 + 64 = 768

That gives us the sum, which is

768
176

Step 3

Now, do we need to simplify this fraction?

First, we attempt to divide it by 2...

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

768
176
÷ 2 =
384
88

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:

384
88
÷ 2 =
192
44

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:

192
44
÷ 2 =
96
22

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:

96
22
÷ 2 =
48
11

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...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 5...

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. So next you try the next prime number, which is 13...

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

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 64/16 + 4/11

64
16
+
4
11
=
48
11
© 2014 Randy Tayler