math help

What is 6/88 + 2/6?

What is 6/88 + 2/6?

Here's how we add

6
88
+
2
6

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 6, and get 36, then we multiply 88 by 6 and get 528.

6/88 times 6

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 2 by 88, and get 176, then multiply 88 by 6 and get 528.

2/6 times 88

The problem now has new fractions to add:

36
528
+
176
528

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

36 + 176 = 212

The sum we get is

212
528

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:

212
528
÷ 2 =
106
264

Let's try dividing by that again...

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

106
264
÷ 2 =
53
132

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...

No good. 59 is larger than 53. So we're done reducing.

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 6/88 + 2/6

6
88
+
2
6
=
53
132
© 2014 Randy Tayler