Question

How would I simplify this complex fraction: 2 - x/3 / 1 + x/2 ?

Would I multiply it by 1 + x/2 over 1?

Answer 1

multiply it by six over six

Answer 2

does that help?

Answer 3

How did you get 6 over 6?

Answer 4

think about the numbers in the denominator of the individual fractions. you can multiply any number by one and get that same number. well six over six is essentially one. if you multiply six over one by a fraction that has two in the denominator then the two cancels and leaves three on top. if you multiply six over one by any fraction containing three in the denominator you cancel the three and are left with two up top. now you have eliminated the "complex" part of the fraction the rest is straight forward

Answer 5

you can think of six over six as a complex fraction as well (6/1)/(6/1). when you multiply by the recipricol you get 6/6

Answer 6

So how would my new problem look like? 3 times 6/6 over 2 times 6/6? I'm abit confused.

Answer 7

I wish I could show the work with the fractions lined up vertically. just write the top first(2-(x/3)) think about multiplying this by 6/1.

Answer 8

distribute the 6/1 in to each term and then multiply. do the same to the bottom. then you woud have (12-2x)/(6+3x). that is correct, I appologoze if the other confused you

Answer 9

Thank you!

Answer 10

no problem

Answer 11

Can you help me with one more of these complex fractions?

Answer 12

sure

Answer 13

This one's: 2 + x / x +1 over 1 - x/2

Answer 14

one second I have to get paper for that one

Answer 15

okay!

Answer 16

ok this is the same idea. I will walk you along, i just want you to understand. ok?

Answer 17

okay.

Answer 18

look at each of the smaller fractions within the complex fraction. What are the denominators of each?

Answer 19

x/2 and x + 1? So, it'd be 2?

Answer 20

the fraction in the denominator is x/2 right? so its denominator is 2. do you follow?

Answer 21

yes. And the other one had x + 1 so it's (x + 1) ?

Answer 22

then the fraction on the top has x+1 in the denominator right?

Answer 23

right

Answer 24

ok what you are aiming to do is eliminate the smal fractions within the bigger one. so you need to multiply the bottom fraction by something with two in the numerator so that it will cancel. then you need to multiply the nuerator by a fraction that has x+1 in the numerator so that it will cancel. Last we have to remember that we can't change the value of the fraction only it's form. so we can alwas multiply by one. we need a form of one that has 2 and x+1 in it. so we will multiply by [2(x+1)]/[2(x=1)]

Answer 25

you can look at any fraction.... lets say 7/7 as (7/1)/(7/1) and when you multiply by the reciprocal you find it to be 7/7. so we can look at [2(x+1)]/[2(x=1)] as each of those being over one, kind of a complex fraction itself. then distribute that in to each term within the complex fraction, cross cancel, multiply and simplify :) that rhymes

Answer 26

ohh, alright. thank you so much! :)

Answer 27

no problem good luck