SOLUTION: A student says that a + b = a because the variable b cancels. How do you respond? c + b c

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Question 174298: A student says that a + b = a because the variable b cancels. How do you respond?
c + b c

Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
A student says that a + b = a because the variable b cancels. How do you respond?
c + b c
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[(a+b])/(c+b) = (a/c)
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I say the student is wrong because you cannot cancel terms, only factors
that are common to numerator and denominator.
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Cheers,
Stan H.