math help

What is 64/4 + 3/11?

What is 64/4 + 3/11?

Here's how you add

64
4
+
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 4 by 11 and get 44.

64/4 times 11

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 3 by 4, and get 12, then multiply 4 by 11 and get 44.

3/11 times 4

The problem now has new fractions to add:

704
44
+
12
44

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

704 + 12 = 716

This yields the answer

716
44

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:

716
44
÷ 2 =
358
22

Now, try the same number again.

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

358
22
÷ 2 =
179
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 64/4 + 3/11

64
4
+
3
11
=
179
11
© 2014 Randy Tayler