Question

please help. (:
Which factor can you cancel from the numerator and denominator to simplify 7 times x minus 21 all over 18 minus 6 times x.? [Hint: (a−x) = − (x − a)]

6 over 7.
x − 3
7 over 6.
x + 3

Answer 1

@johnweldon1993

Answer 2

can you write that in numerals?

Answer 3

So lets see

\[\large \frac{7x - 21}{-6x + 18}\] right?

Answer 4

What are both terms on the top divisible by?

What are both terms on the bottom divisible by?

Answer 5

\[\frac{ 7x-21 }{18--6x }\]

Answer 6

Oh its minus minus on the bottom?

Answer 7

its minus at the bottom, yeah.

Answer 8

Okay wait, stick with me lol...because I see a double negative in the bottom that you wrote

so is it

\(\large \frac{7x - 21}{18 - (-6x)}\) or \(\large \frac{7x - 21}{18 - 6x} \)

Answer 9

------>>

Answer 10

so you need to find a common factor.

Answer 11

Lol okay thank you

\[\large \frac{7x - 21}{18 - 6x}\]

What number is each term on the top divisible by?

What number is each term on the bottom divisible by?

Answer 12

bottom is divisible by 3?

Answer 13

?

Answer 14

Oh sorry, it never told me you responded!

Umm, yes it is divisible by 3...but it is also divisible by 6 right? we just kinda want the largest number here

What about the top?

Answer 15

7

Answer 16

Right, so you know the distributive property right?

The one that says something like *just an example*

\[\large 3(x + 2) = 3x + 6\]

Answer 17

yeah

Answer 18

Okay good, so you're with me if I write

\[\large \frac{7(x - 3)}{6(3 - x)}\]

Answer 19

yep .;p

Answer 20

haha well good ;p

So looking at that hint you got in the question

\[\large (a - x) = -(x - a)\]

We can now write this as

\[\large \frac{7(x - 3)}{-6(x - 3)}\]

Answer 21

okay

Answer 22

Make sense? Trying to do it so you follow along :D

So now what cancels?

Answer 23

\[\frac{ 7 }{ -6 }\]

Answer 24

Well that's what's left after the \(\large (x - 3)\) cancels ;P

Answer 25

Lol. Thank you!

Answer 26

Not a problem :D