math help

What is 40/41 + 2/4?

What is 40/41 + 2/4?

This is how we add

40
41
+
2
4

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 4, and get 160, then we multiply 41 by 4 and get 164.

40/41 times 4

Now for the second term. You multiply 2 by 41, and get 82, then multiply 41 by 4 and get 164.

2/4 times 41

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

160
164
+
82
164

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

160 + 82 = 242

That gives us the sum, which is

242
164

Step 3

Now, do we need to simplify this fraction?

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

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 2? Yes! So we reduce it:

242
164
÷ 2 =
121
82

Let's try dividing by that again...

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...

No good. 83 is larger than 82. So we're done reducing.

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 40/41 + 2/4

40
41
+
2
4
=
121
82
© 2014 Randy Tayler