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If we write $\sqrt{5}+\frac{1}{\sqrt{5}} + \sqrt{7} + \frac{1}{\sqrt{7}}$ in the form $\dfrac{a\sqrt{5} + b\sqrt{7}}{c}$ such that $a$, $b$, and $c$ are positive integers and $c$ is as small as possible, then what is $a+b+c$?

 Jul 26, 2019
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Simplify the following:
sqrt(5) + 1/sqrt(5) + sqrt(7) + 1/sqrt(7)

 

Rationalize the denominator. 1/sqrt(5) = 1/sqrt(5)×(sqrt(5))/(sqrt(5)) = (sqrt(5))/5:
sqrt(5) + (sqrt(5))/5 + sqrt(7) + 1/sqrt(7)

 

Rationalize the denominator. 1/sqrt(7) = 1/sqrt(7)×(sqrt(7))/(sqrt(7)) = (sqrt(7))/7:
sqrt(5) + (sqrt(5))/5 + sqrt(7) + (sqrt(7))/7

 

Put each term in sqrt(5) + (sqrt(5))/5 + sqrt(7) + (sqrt(7))/7 over the common denominator 35: sqrt(5) + (sqrt(5))/5 + sqrt(7) + (sqrt(7))/7 = (35 sqrt(5))/35 + (7 sqrt(5))/35 + (35 sqrt(7))/35 + (5 sqrt(7))/35:
(35 sqrt(5))/35 + (7 sqrt(5))/35 + (35 sqrt(7))/35 + (5 sqrt(7))/35

 

(35 sqrt(5))/35 + (7 sqrt(5))/35 + (35 sqrt(7))/35 + (5 sqrt(7))/35 = (35 sqrt(5) + 7 sqrt(5) + 35 sqrt(7) + 5 sqrt(7))/35:
(35 sqrt(5) + 7 sqrt(5) + 35 sqrt(7) + 5 sqrt(7))/35

 

Add like terms. 35 sqrt(5) + 7 sqrt(5) + 35 sqrt(7) + 5 sqrt(7) = 42 sqrt(5) + 40 sqrt(7):


(42 sqrt(5) + 40 sqrt(7))/35  = a + b + c =42 + 40 + 35 = 117

 Jul 27, 2019

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