Question

Simplify:

Answer 1

Ill help

Answer 2

@pitamar

Answer 3

I'm a little confused.. what is dividing what? =|
Can you post a screenshot of it?

Answer 4

I see so:
$$
\frac{\;\;\frac{3}{x+1}\;\;}{\frac{5}{x-1}}
$$Right?

Answer 5

yes

Answer 6

Ok, we have a ratio. With ratios you can multiply the numerator and the denominator by the same number without changing its value.
So we have numerator of \(\frac{3}{x+1}\) and denominator of \(\frac{5}{x-1}\)
let's multiply them both by \(x-1\)
What our numerator is now? what about the denominator?

Answer 7

3x-3

Answer 8

5x-5

Answer 9

x-1 under 3x-3

Answer 10

close. the numerator is \(\frac{3}{x+1}\) so after multiplication: \(\frac{3}{x+1} \cdot (x-1) = \frac{3x - 3}{x+1}\). Get what I mean?

Answer 11

The denominator was \(\frac{5}{x-1}\) so now it is \(\frac{5}{x-1} \cdot (x-1) = 5\)
Makes sense?

Answer 12

yes I see

Answer 13

so our fraction now is
$$
\frac{ \frac{3x-3}{x+1} }{5}
$$ and now we can multiply them both by 1/5 and get:
$$
\frac{3x-3}{x+1} \cdot \frac{1}{5} = \frac{3x-3}{5x+5}
$$

Answer 14

ok so we got that because we * by 1/5 gotcha

Answer 15

ye, cuz 5 * (1/5) = 1 So this 'eliminates' the denominator

Answer 16

So this time we have:
$$
\frac{ \frac{x+2}{y} }{ \frac{y}{x+2} }
$$Right?

Answer 17

right

Answer 18

So what do we have to multiply both to get rid of the denominator?

Answer 19

our denominator is \(\frac{y}{x+2}\). what do you have to multiply that by to make it 1?

Answer 20

1*1=1

Answer 21

let me ask you this. \(\frac{2}{3} \cdot K = 1\)
What is K?

Answer 22

K = letter or 1 variable