Question 119455: I need to simplify each complex fraction. Please help this is confusing.
(w+3)/4w divided by(w-3)/2w
Answer by solver91311(24713) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Remember the rule for dividing one fraction by another: Invert the denominator fraction and multiply:
for all real p, q, r, and s, so
Now you just multiply the numerators and the denominators the same way you would multiply any other two fractions:
Since there is a factor of 2w in both the numerator and denominator, we can eliminate that, so:
Since there are no more common factors in the numerator and denominator, we are done except for distributing the 2 in the denominator across the (w - 3) to remove the parentheses, thus:
Let's check our work:
We know that if then , so if , then must be true.
Now factor a 2 out of the binomial in the denominator resulting in:
once you eliminate the common factor of (w - 3), and that verifies the answer.
Hope that helps.
John
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