math help

What is 88/15 + 1/2?

What is 88/15 + 1/2?

Let's add

88
15
+
1
2

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 88 by 2, and get 176, then we multiply 15 by 2 and get 30.

88/15 times 2

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 1 by 15, and get 15, then multiply 15 by 2 and get 30.

1/2 times 15

The problem now has new fractions to add:

176
30
+
15
30

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

176 + 15 = 191

This yields the answer

191
30

Step 3

The last step is to reduce the fraction if we can.

To find out, we try dividing 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...

No good. 31 is larger than 30. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 88/15 + 1/2

88
15
+
1
2
=
191
30
© 2014 Randy Tayler