SOLUTION: Simplify the complex fraction 1-5/a-1 divided by 3-2/a-1 I did not know if I was supposed to multiply each by 1 and work from there or what step should I take. I would apprecia

Algebra ->  Complex Numbers Imaginary Numbers Solvers and Lesson -> SOLUTION: Simplify the complex fraction 1-5/a-1 divided by 3-2/a-1 I did not know if I was supposed to multiply each by 1 and work from there or what step should I take. I would apprecia      Log On


   

Question 134722This question is from textbook
: Simplify the complex fraction
1-5/a-1
divided by
3-2/a-1
I did not know if I was supposed to multiply each by 1 and work from there or what step should I take. I would appreciate any help possible This question is from textbook

Answer by vleith(2983) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
You need to use more parens. It is hard to know what your question really is without them.
I'll assume you meant %281-%285%2F%28a-1%29%29%29+%2F+%283+-+%282%2F%28a-1%29%29%29
you need to find a common denominator for both the numberator terms and the denominator terms.
%28%281%28a-1%29-5%29%2F%28a-1%29%29+%2F+%28%283%28a-1%29+-+2%29%2F%28a-1%29%29
Turns out that both fractions have the same denominator %28a-1%29
Dividing two fractions is the same as multipling the numerator fraction by the inverse of the denominator fraction.
%28%281%28a-1%29-5%29%2F%28a-1%29%29+%2A+%28%28a-1%29%2F%283%28a-1%29+-+2%29%29

Now %28a-1%29%2F%28a-1%29 = 1 so those terms "cancel", leaving
%28%281%28a-1%29-5%29%2F%283%28a-1%29+-+2%29%29
%28a+-+1+-+5%29%2F+%283a+-3+-2%29
+%28a-6%29+%2F+%283a-5%29+