document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=174298>Question 174298</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> A student says that a + b   =  a   because the variable b cancels.  How do you respond?<BR>\n" );
document.write( "                    c + b       c  <BR>\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #129246 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><B>stanbon(75887)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=129246\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> A student says that a + b   =  a   because the variable b cancels.  How do you respond?<BR>\n" );
document.write( "                    c + b       c  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "----------------------------------------------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "[(a+b])/(c+b) = (a/c)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "----<BR>\n" );
document.write( "I say the student is wrong because you cannot cancel terms, only factors<BR>\n" );
document.write( "that are common to numerator and denominator.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "==================<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Cheers,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Stan H. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );