math help

What is 9/60 + 1/9?

What is 9/60 + 1/9?

This is how you add

9
60
+
1
9

Step 1

Can you add yet? Nope! The denominators don't match. We need a common denominator. So next we take both denominators and multiply them. Next, take each numerator and multiply it by the denominator of the other term.

So, we multiply 9 by 9, and get 81, then we multiply 60 by 9 and get 540.

9/60 times 9

Now for the second term. You multiply 1 by 60, and get 60, then multiply 60 by 9 and get 540.

1/9 times 60

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

81
540
+
60
540

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

81 + 60 = 141

That gives us the sum, which is

141
540

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...

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

141
540
÷ 3 =
47
180

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...

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...

No good. 53 is larger than 47. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 9/60 + 1/9

9
60
+
1
9
=
47
180
© 2014 Randy Tayler