document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1024464>Question 1024464</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> I need to be able to help a student learn how to simplify and algebraic expression that includes fractions, however i am unsure how to do it myself-\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "the equation looks like this-\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "8/10(3/2 - 8b) + 3b -5m </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #639867 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=josgarithmetic><B>josgarithmetic(39625)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=josgarithmetic><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=639867\">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=8%2F10%283%2F2+-+8b%29+%2B+3b+-5m ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"8%2F10%283%2F2+-+8b%29+%2B+3b+-5m\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > -------I assume the rendering does not show what is really given.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "GUESS:  You are actually maybe given  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%288%2F10%29%283%2F2-8b%29%2B3b-5m ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%288%2F10%29%283%2F2-8b%29%2B3b-5m\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "The order of operations among Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division, Groupings must go in this order:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Parentheses (grouping symbols);<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Exponents<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Multiplications<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Divisions<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Additions<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Subtractions<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Meaning, do operations inside grouping symbols FIRST,... and do subtractions LAST  (if any); and everything else listed, in order.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "What groupings do you find?<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Only <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%283%2F2-8b%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%283%2F2-8b%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >; and no computations or simplifications are possible in this expression.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "What is next?  Exponents?  No.  None.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "Do then, any multiplications, in your case, involving Distributive Property.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%288%2F10%29%283%2F2%29-%288%2F10%29%288b%29%2B3b-5m ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%288%2F10%29%283%2F2%29-%288%2F10%29%288b%29%2B3b-5m\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "SIMPLIFY ANY TERMS!<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=3%2A4%2F10-%284%2F5%298b%2B3b-5m ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"3%2A4%2F10-%284%2F5%298b%2B3b-5m\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=6%2F5-%2832%2F5%29b%2B3b-5m ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"6%2F5-%2832%2F5%29b%2B3b-5m\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "Not finished, but now is a good time to begin combining like-terms.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-%2832%2F5%29b%2B3b-5m%2B6%2F5 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-%2832%2F5%29b%2B3b-5m%2B6%2F5\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, which uses Commutative Property of Equality.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "Use ordinary fractions skills to finish combining the terms of b.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-%2832%2F5%29b%2B%285%2F5%29%283b%29-5m%2B6%2F5 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-%2832%2F5%29b%2B%285%2F5%29%283b%29-5m%2B6%2F5\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-%28%2832%2B5%29%2F5%29b-5m%2B6%2F5 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-%28%2832%2B5%29%2F5%29b-5m%2B6%2F5\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=highlight%28-%2837%2F5%29b-5m%2B6%2F5%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"highlight%28-%2837%2F5%29b-5m%2B6%2F5%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >-----basically done, unless you want mixed number coefficients instead of improper fraction coefficients. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );