math help

What is 40/41 + 1/5?

What is 40/41 + 1/5?

This is how we add

40
41
+
1
5

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 40 by 5, and get 200, then we multiply 41 by 5 and get 205.

40/41 times 5

Now for the second term. You multiply 1 by 41, and get 41, then multiply 41 by 5 and get 205.

1/5 times 41

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

200
205
+
41
205

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

200 + 41 = 241

That gives us the sum, which is

241
205

Step 3

Now, do we need to simplify this fraction?

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

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...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 61...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 67...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 71...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 73...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 79...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 83...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 89...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 97...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 101...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 103...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 107...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 109...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 113...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 127...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 131...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 137...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 139...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 149...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 151...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 157...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 163...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 167...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 173...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 179...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 181...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 191...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 193...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 197...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 199...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 211...

No good. 211 is larger than 205. So we're done reducing.

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 40/41 + 1/5

40
41
+
1
5
=
241
205
© 2014 Randy Tayler