math help

What is 88/15 + 6/9?

What is 88/15 + 6/9?

This is how to add

88
15
+
6
9

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 9, and get 792, then we multiply 15 by 9 and get 135.

88/15 times 9

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 6 by 15, and get 90, then multiply 15 by 9 and get 135.

6/9 times 15

The problem now has new fractions to add:

792
135
+
90
135

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

792 + 90 = 882

The sum we get is

882
135

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...

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 3? Yes! So we reduce it:

882
135
÷ 3 =
294
45

Now, try the same number again.

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 3? Yes! So we reduce it:

294
45
÷ 3 =
98
15

Now, try the same number again.

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...

No good. 17 is larger than 15. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 88/15 + 6/9

88
15
+
6
9
=
98
15
© 2014 Randy Tayler