SOLUTION: On my worksheet it says: To divide 7/x+2 by x-2/14, you can multiply 7/x+2 by: Can you please help. I'm not sure how to answer it. Thanks

Algebra ->  Expressions-with-variables -> SOLUTION: On my worksheet it says: To divide 7/x+2 by x-2/14, you can multiply 7/x+2 by: Can you please help. I'm not sure how to answer it. Thanks      Log On


   

Question 130170: On my worksheet it says:
To divide 7/x+2 by x-2/14, you can multiply 7/x+2 by:
Can you please help. I'm not sure how to answer it.

Thanks
Found 2 solutions by stanbon, bucky:
Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
To divide 7/x+2 by x-2/14, you can multiply 7/x+2 by:
-------------------
You have to invert the denominator, then multiply.
So you need to multiply by 14/(x-2).
Cheers,
Stan H.

Answer by bucky(2189) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Sure. Remember way back when you were learning fractions ... you were probably taught that
when you divide by a fraction, you can just invert the fraction and multiply by that inverted
form.
.
For example, if you are given the problem to divide 3%2F4 by 2%2F3 you can invert the
divisor 2%2F3 to get 3%2F2 and multiply that by the 3%2F4. The problem becomes:
.
%283%2F4%29%2F%282%2F3%29+=+%283%2F4%29%2A%283%2F2%29+=+%283%2A3%29%2F%284%2A2%29+=+9%2F8
.
Just like this example, the problem you are given involves dividing by a fraction. You are
asked to divide 7%2F%28x%2B2%29 by the fraction %28x-2%29%2F14. You can do this problem by
inverting the divisor (flip it upside down) to get 14%2F%28x-2%29 and multiply that by 7%2F%28x%2B2%29.
.
So the original problem of:
.
%287%2F%28x%2B2%29%29%2F%28%28x-2%29%2F14%29
.
becomes:
.
%287%2F%28x%2B2%29%29%2A%2814%2F%28x-2%29%29+=+%287%2A14%29%2F%28%28x%2B2%29%28x-2%29%29
.
Hope this helps you to understand what the worksheet wanted for an answer.