math help

What is 6/88 + 1/7?

What is 6/88 + 1/7?

Here's how we add

6
88
+
1
7

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 6 by 7, and get 42, then we multiply 88 by 7 and get 616.

6/88 times 7

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 1 by 88, and get 88, then multiply 88 by 7 and get 616.

1/7 times 88

The problem now has new fractions to add:

42
616
+
88
616

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

42 + 88 = 130

The sum we get is

130
616

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:

130
616
÷ 2 =
65
308

Let's try dividing by that again...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 3...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 5...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 7...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 11...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 13...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 17...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 19...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 23...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 29...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 31...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 37...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 41...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 43...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 47...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 53...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 59...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 61...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 67...

No good. 67 is larger than 65. So we're done reducing.

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 6/88 + 1/7

6
88
+
1
7
=
65
308
© 2014 Randy Tayler