SOLUTION: Reduce the following rational expression to its lowest terms: (4x^4 y^3) / (4v^3 y^4 - 20y)

Algebra ->  Polynomials-and-rational-expressions -> SOLUTION: Reduce the following rational expression to its lowest terms: (4x^4 y^3) / (4v^3 y^4 - 20y)      Log On


   

Question 388153: Reduce the following rational expression to its lowest terms:
(4x^4 y^3) / (4v^3 y^4 - 20y)
Answer by jsmallt9(3758) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
%284x%5E4%2Ay%5E3%29%2F%284v%5E3%2Ay%5E4+-+20y%29
Reducing a fraction involves canceling factors that are common to the numerator and denominator. So to reduce we need to know the factors and to know the factors we have to factor the numerator and denominator. The numerator, since it is a single term, is pretty much already factored. But we can factor out the greatest common factor (GCF) in the denominator. The GCF of the denominator is 4y:
%284x%5E4%2Ay%5E3%29%2F%284y%2A%28v%5E3%2Ay%5E3+-+5%29%29
To make the canceling clearer I will factor the numerator a little:
%284x%5E4%2Ay%5E2%2Ay%29%2F%284y%2A%28v%5E3%2Ay%5E3+-+5%29%29
Now we can cancel:

leaving:
%28x%5E4%2Ay%5E2%29%2F%28v%5E3%2Ay%5E3+-+5%29
This is the reduced fraction.