67 to 71. The denominators (of certain given fractions) are stated to be 19, 23, 62, 29, 123, 35, 188, 87, 98, 47, 140, 141, 116, 31, 92, 57, 73, 55, 110, 49, 74, 219, (in order); and the numerators begin with 1 and rise successively in value by 1 (in order). Add (all) these (fractions) and give the result. O you who have reached the other shore of the ocean of simple fractions.
Here, the rule for arriving at the numerators, (when the denominators and the sum of a number of fractions are given, is as follows):--
72. Make one the numerator (in relation to all the given denominators); then, multiply by means of such (numbers) as are optionally chosen, those numerators which (are derived from these fractions so as to) have a common denominator. (Here), those (numbers) turn out to be the required numerators, the sum of the products whereof, obtained by multiplying them with the numerators (derived as above), is equal to the numerator of) the given sum(of the fractions concerned).
The rule for arriving at the numerators, (the denominators and the sum being given as before), in relation to such (fractional) quantities as have their numerators (successively) rising in value by one, when, in the (given) sum (of these fractions), the denominator is higher in value than the numerator:--
73. The quotient obtained by dividing the (given) sum (of the fractions concerned) by the sum of those (tentative fractions)
72. This rule will become clear from the working of the example in stana No. 74, wherein we assume 1 to be the provisional numerator in relation to each of the given denominators; thus we get and which, being reduced so as to have a common denominator, become and . When the numerators are multiplied by 2, 3 and 4 in order, the sum of the products thus obtained becomes equal to the numerator of the given sum, namely, 877. Hence, 2, 3, and 4 are the required numerators. Here it may be pointed out that this given sum also must be understood to have the same denominators as the common denominator of the fractions
73. To work out the sum given under 74 below, according to this rule:--
Reducing to the same denominator the fractions formed by assuming 1 to be the numerator in relation to each of the given denominators, we get, and . Dividing the given sum by the sum of these fractions , we get the quotient 2, which is the numerator in relation to the first denominator. The remainder 279
