Originally Posted by patavax

Are you really serious???

You can't do it step by step cause you have to follow math rules for order of operations!
These rules are basic in maths! That means it's about the same of knowing figures 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,... and X,:,+ and -. So if you don't know these basics, you will fail!

The only way to do it is:
40 + (40X0=0) + 1= 41


BTW: here are the rules for order of operations:

Rule 1: First perform any calculations inside parentheses.
Rule 2: Next perform all multiplications and divisions, working from left to right.
Rule 3: Lastly, perform all additions and subtractions, working from left to right.