SOLUTION: a/2 - 3/a (a divided by 2 minus 3 over a)

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Question 40578: a/2 - 3/a (a divided by 2 minus 3 over a)
Answer by astromathman(21) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Simplify: a%2F2-3%2Fa.
You need a common denominator.
Ask: "What does the denominator on the right have, that the denominator on the left lacks?" (Ans: a)
Now ask: "What does the deonminator on the left have, that the denominator on the right lacks?" (Ans: 2)
So multiply the left fraction by a%2Fa and the right fraction by 2%2F2:
We get %28a%5E2%29%2F%282a%29-6%2F%282a%29 which reduces to %28a%5E2-6%29%2F%282a%29
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A communication from the student tells me he/she meant a different starting expression:
a%2F%282-3%2Fa%29
For this the first step is to subtract the fractions in the denominator. Multiply the 2 by a%2Fa, and subtract so the denominator is now %282a-3%29%2Fa. Now divide the numerator by the denominator. In other words, invert the fraction in the denominator and multiply by the numerator: %28a%2F1%29%2A%28a%2F%282a-3%29%29=a%5E2%2F%282a-3%29. This can't be simplified any further.