document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1023129>Question 1023129</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Can you please solve this: Divide and simplify.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "(-48/90) / (-32/72) </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #638658 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Theo><B>Theo(13342)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Theo><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=Theo><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=638658\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> in general, a/b is the same as a * 1/b.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "in other words, when you divide by something, it's the same thing as multiplying by the reciprocal of that something.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "likewise, (a/b) / (c/d) is the same as (a/b) * (d/c).\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "same reason.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "d/c is the reciprocal of c/d.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "consequently, .....\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "(-48/90) / (-32/72) is the same as (-48/90) * (72/-32).\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "now a/-b is the same as -a/b is the same as -(a/b).\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "consequently, (-48/90) * (72/-32) is the same as -(48/90) * -(72/32).\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "now you know that a minus times a minus is equal to a plus, so .....\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "-(48/90) * -(72/32) is the same as (48/90) * (72/32).\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "now you also know that (48/90) * (72/32) is the same as (48 * 72) / (90 * 32) which is the same as (48/32) * (72/90).\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "48/32 can be reduced to 3/2, so the expression becomes (3 * 72) / (90 * 2).\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "3/90 can be reduced to 1/30, so the expression becomes (72) / (30 * 2).\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "72/2 can be reduced to 36/1, so the expression becomes 36 / 30.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "36/30 can be reduced to 6/5.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "since 6/5 can't be reduced any further, that's your solution.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "you can confirm this solution is correct by doing the following in your scientific calculator that can handle parentheses.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "enter exactly as shown:  (-48/90) / (-32/72) \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "your calculator will tell you that the solution is 1.2.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "enter 6/5 in your calculator and your calculator will tell you that the solution is 1.2.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "since they both equal 1.2, they're equivalent, and so (-48/90) / (-32/72)  = 6/5.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "this confirms your solution is correct.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "some calculators use a different - symbol to indicate a negative number.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "if you use the - symbol for operations, when you wanted to indicate a negative number, you might get an incorrect response.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "you might have to be a little bit careful about that.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "my ti-84 plus is such a calculator.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
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