document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=174308>Question 174308</A>This question is from textbook <A HREF=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/9780073533490/algebrahomeworkh>Elementary and Intermediate Algebra</A><BR>\n" );
document.write( ": <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Using the LCD to simplify Complex Fractions.  This problem has me stumped, can you help ?<BR>\n" );
document.write( "4ab^5<BR>\n" );
document.write( "------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "a+b<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-----<BR>\n" );
document.write( "6a^2b^4\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "I think the LCD for this one is 1/6a^2b^4.  Please show me the steps </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #129250 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=solver91311><B>solver91311(24713)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=solver91311><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/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=solver91311><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=129250\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> I think you are trying to illustrate the following:\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28%284ab%5E5%29%2F%28a%2Bb%29%29%2F%286a%5E2b%5E4%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28%284ab%5E5%29%2F%28a%2Bb%29%29%2F%286a%5E2b%5E4%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "Since you aren't trying to find the sum of fractions, you have no need of a Lowest Common Denominator.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "So, this is <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%284ab%5E5%29%2F%28a%2Bb%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%284ab%5E5%29%2F%28a%2Bb%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > divided by <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=6a%5E2b%5E4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"6a%5E2b%5E4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, but the divisor can be expressed as <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%286a%5E2b%5E4%29%2F1 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%286a%5E2b%5E4%29%2F1\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "Just like performing any other division by a fraction problem, invert the divisor and multiply:\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28%284ab%5E5%29%2F%28a%2Bb%29%29%281%2F6a%5E2b%5E4%29=%284ab%5E5%29%2F%28%28a%2Bb%29%286a%5E2b%5E4%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > \r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "Now, all you need to do is eliminate factors common to both the numerator and denominator, namely <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=2ab%5E4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"2ab%5E4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, leaving you with:\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%282b%29%2F%28%28a%2Bb%29%283a%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%282b%29%2F%28%28a%2Bb%29%283a%29%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > which can be expressed as <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=2b%2F%283a%5E2%2B3ab%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"2b%2F%283a%5E2%2B3ab%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.  It is moot, in my mind, as to which form is simpler.  In fact, if this were the result of an intermediate calculation as part of a larger problem, you may choose one over the other depending on the nature of the further calculation in which you intend to use the expression.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );