Question 23346
<pre> Simplify each complex fraction
(1/3-1/4)/(1/3+1/6) 
<font size = 3><b>
  1     1
 ——— - ———
  3     4
———————————
  1     1
 ——— + ———
  3     6  

Look at all four denominators 3,4,3,and 6.  The LCD of all
four of these is 12.  Therefore we multiply every fraction
in the top and in the bottom by 12/1

  12     1     12     1
 ———— · ——— - ———— · ———
   1     3      1     4
—————————————————————————
  12     1     12     1
 ———— · ——— + ———— · ———
   1     3      1     6

Now we cancel:

  <sub>4</sub>            <sub>3</sub>
  <s>12</s>     1     <s>12</s>     1
 ———— · ——— - ———— · ———
   1     <s>3</s><sub>1</sub>     1    <s> 4 </s><sub>1</sub>
—————————————————————————
 <sup>4</sup><s>12</s>     1    <sup>2</sup><s>12</s>     1
 ———— · ——— + ———— · ———
   1     <s>3</s><sub>1</sub>     1     <s>6</s><sub>1</sub>

All that's left is:

 4 - 3
———————
 4 + 2

or
   1
  ———
   6

===================================================
===================================================

  1     3
 ——— - ———
  x     2
———————————
  3     1
 ——— + ———
  4     x  

Look at all four denominators x,2,4,and x.  The LCD of all
four of these is 4x.  Therefore we multiply every fraction
in the top and in the bottom by 4x/1

  4x     1     4x     3
 ———— · ——— - ———— · ———
   1     x      1     2
—————————————————————————
  4x     3     4x     1
 ———— · ——— + ———— · ———
   1     4      1     x

Now we cancel:

                          <sub>2</sub>
  4<s>x</s>     1     <s>4</s>x     3
 ———— · ——— - ———— · ———
   1     <s>x</s><sub>1</sub>     1     <s>2</s><sub>1</sub>
—————————————————————————
 <sup>1</sup><s>4</s>x     3    <sup>2</sup>4<s>x</s>     1
 ———— · ——— + ———— · ———
   1     <s>4</s><sub>1</sub>     1     <s>x</s><sub>1</sub>

All that's left is:

 4 - 2x·3
——————————
 x·3 + 4

or

   4 - 6x
  ————————
   3x + 4

Edwin
AnlytcPhil@aol.com</pre>