document.write( "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. \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #536165 by Edwin McCravy(20060)\"\" \"About 
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document.write( "The a and b in the numerator are FACTORS of the numerator.  \r\n" );
document.write( "That is, they are MULTIPLIED together to form the numerator.\r\n" );
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document.write( "The a and b in the denominator are TERMS of the denominator.  \r\n" );
document.write( "That is, they are SUBTRACTED to form the denominator.\r\n" );
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document.write( "We may only cancel a FACTOR of the numerator with a FACTOR\r\n" );
document.write( "of the denominator.  A TERM of the numerator can NEVER be \r\n" );
document.write( "canceled with anything in the denominator, or vice-versa.\r\n" );
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document.write( "Edwin
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