SOLUTION: Simplify: 5x^4 over 8 x^2 y^2 * 8y^5 over 15 I got x^4 8 y^3 over 8 x^2 3

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Question 398284: Simplify: 5x^4 over 8 x^2 y^2 * 8y^5 over 15
I got x^4 8 y^3 over 8 x^2 3
Answer by jsmallt9(3758) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
%285x%5E4%2F%288x%5E2%2Ay%5E2%29%29%2A%288y%5E5%2F15%29
When multiplying fractions not only is it OK to cancel common factors between the numerator and denominator (even from one fraction across to the other), it is a good idea. So I will start by factoring the numerators and denominators in a way that should make the common factors obvious:
%285x%5E2%2Ax%5E2%2F%288x%5E2%2Ay%5E2%29%29%2A%288y%5E2%2Ay%5E3%2F%283%2A5%29%29
Now we can cancel the common factors:

which simplifies to:
%28x%5E2%2F1%29%2A%28y%5E3%2F3%29
which is very easy to multiply:
x%5E2y%5E3%2F3%29