math help

What is 64/17 + 6/8?

What is 64/17 + 6/8?

Here's how we add

64
17
+
6
8

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 8, and get 512, then we multiply 17 by 8 and get 136.

64/17 times 8

Now for the second term. You multiply 6 by 17, and get 102, then multiply 17 by 8 and get 136.

6/8 times 17

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

512
136
+
102
136

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

512 + 102 = 614

That gives us the sum, which is

614
136

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:

614
136
÷ 2 =
307
68

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. So next you try the next prime number, which is 17...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 19...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 23...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 29...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 31...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 37...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 41...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 43...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 47...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 53...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 59...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 61...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 67...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 71...

No good. 71 is larger than 68. So we're done reducing.

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 64/17 + 6/8

64
17
+
6
8
=
307
68
© 2014 Randy Tayler