math help

What is 72/63 + 7/9?

What is 72/63 + 7/9?

Here's how we add

72
63
+
7
9

Step 1

Our denominators (bottom numbers) don't match, so we can't add yet.

63 goes into 9 evenly, so we only need to multiply one term to get a common denominator.

Multiply 7 by 7, and get 49, then we multiply 9 by 7 and get 63.

7/9 times 7

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

72
63
+
49
63

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

72 + 49 = 121

That gives us the sum, which is

121
63

Step 3

Now, do we need to simplify this fraction?

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

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...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 17...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 19...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 23...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 29...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 31...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 37...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 41...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 43...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 47...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 53...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 59...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 61...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 67...

No good. 67 is larger than 63. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 72/63 + 7/9

72
63
+
7
9
=
121
63
© 2014 Randy Tayler