SOLUTION: Can anyone explain why ab/a-b is in simplest form? Why can't the a's and b's cancel out and leave -1? Thanks.

Question 886828: Can anyone explain why ab/a-b is in simplest form? Why can't the a's and b's cancel out and leave -1? Thanks.
Answer by Edwin McCravy(20060) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!

The a and b in the numerator are FACTORS of the numerator.  
That is, they are MULTIPLIED together to form the numerator.

The a and b in the denominator are TERMS of the denominator.  
That is, they are SUBTRACTED to form the denominator.

We may only cancel a FACTOR of the numerator with a FACTOR
of the denominator.  A TERM of the numerator can NEVER be 
canceled with anything in the denominator, or vice-versa.

Edwin

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