document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=622931>Question 622931</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Please help! Simplify by any method.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=+%28%281%29%2F%283y%29%2B%281%29%2F%286y%29%29%2F%28%281%29%2F%282y%29%2B%283%29%2F%284y%29%29+ ALIGN=MIDDLE   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #391718 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jsmallt9><B>jsmallt9(3758)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jsmallt9><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=391718\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=+%28%281%29%2F%283y%29%2B%281%29%2F%286y%29%29%2F%28%281%29%2F%282y%29%2B%283%29%2F%284y%29%29+ ALIGN=MIDDLE   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "There are different ways to simplify compound fractions like this. The way I prefer is this:<ol><li>There is a \"big\" fraction and parts of the numerator and denominator of the \"big\" fraction are \"little\" fractions. Find the lowest common denominator (LCD) of <i>all</i> the \"little\" denominators.</li><li>Multiply the numerator and denominator of the \"big\" fraction by the LCD found in step one. If this is done correctly, all the \"little\" fractions will disappear.</li><li>At this point you have a simple fraction. Simplify it.</li></ol>Let's see how this works on your compound fraction.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "1. Find the LCD.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Your \"little\" denominators are 3y, 6y, 2y and 4y. The LCD of these is 12y.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "2. Multiply the numerator and denominator of the \"big\" fraction by the LCD:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=+%28%28%281%29%2F%283y%29%2B%281%29%2F%286y%29%29%2F%28%281%29%2F%282y%29%2B%283%29%2F%284y%29%29%29%2812y%2F%2812y%29%29+ ALIGN=MIDDLE   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "To multiply correctly we must use the Distributive Property:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=+%28%281%2F%283y%29%29%2812y%29%2B+%281%2F%286y%29%29%2812y%29%29%2F%28%281%2F%282y%29%29%2812y%29%2B%283%2F%284y%29%29%2812y%29%29+ ALIGN=MIDDLE   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<i>Every</i> \"little\" denominator cancels out leaving:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%281%2A4%2B1%2A2%29%2F%281%2A6%2B3%2A3%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%281%2A4%2B1%2A2%29%2F%281%2A6%2B3%2A3%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "3. Simplify<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%284%2B2%29%2F%286%2B9%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%284%2B2%29%2F%286%2B9%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=6%2F15 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"6%2F15\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=2%2F5 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"2%2F5\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "So <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=+%28%281%29%2F%283y%29%2B%281%29%2F%286y%29%29%2F%28%281%29%2F%282y%29%2B%283%29%2F%284y%29%29+ ALIGN=MIDDLE   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > simplifies down to 2/5<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "P.S. I suspect that you posted several other similar problems. I hope this helps you figure out how to do them, too. </SPAN>\n" );
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