Question

Can someone explain the simplification of this algebra equation?

Answer 1

I don't understand where the 3rd fraction comes from.

Answer 2

The numerator that is.

Answer 3

I'm not really sure what I'm looking at.

Answer 4

At any rate, the third fraction all they did was move the b from the numerator to out front. It's just like they did: \[\Large \frac{b}{stuff}=b \frac{1}{stuff}\]

Answer 5

I'll show the entire question, it's a question from a bioengineering book, I just don't understand the math

Answer 6

Well wait, does that explanation make sense? Or do you mean what did they do the next step down? I think I understand what's going on now and don't need any more information. I was just sort of confused at first but I think I've figured it out.

Answer 7

I understand the above, but it's the following step I do not understand.

Answer 8

Well, what did they add?

(bC-bC)

but what's that? They just added zero, and you can add zero to anything! =)

Answer 9

How did 1 become 1+(bC-bC) though?

Answer 10

bC-bC=0

1=1+0

Answer 11

It didn't "become" anything. They just added zero.

Here, what if you had 1 dollar

Now let's say I give you 5 dollars and then you give me 5 dollars, how many dollars do you have? You just have 1.

Answer 12

1+(bC-bC)=1+(0)=1

Answer 13

I see. In the next step, the equation becomes

Answer 14

So divide by 1+bC?

Answer 15

Yeah, well it's already part of the equation so you're just following through with it.

Answer 16

Thanks for the help, I think I can figure the rest of the simplification from here.

Answer 17

Cool, yeah if you ever run into trouble, just try to isolate the thing and see if you can turn it into something that doesn't affect it like some weird way of multiplying by 1 or adding zero, things like that. Good luck.