Easy Algebra Step-by-Step

152 Easy Algebra Step-by-Step

Step 4. Review the main results.

11

11

xy 11 11

xy

xy xy

yx

xy

yx

xy

+

=+^1

⎛

⎝

⎛⎛

⎝⎝

⎞

⎠⎟

⎞⎞

⎠⎠

÷

⎛

⎝⎜

⎛⎛

⎝⎝

⎞

⎠⎟

⎞⎞

⎠⎠

=

⎛ +

⎝⎜

⎛⎛

⎝⎝

⎞

⎠⎟

⎞⎞

⎠⎠

÷

⎛

⎝⎜

⎛⎛

⎝⎝

⎞

⎠⎟

⎞⎞

– ⎠⎠

– ==

( + )

⋅

( )

=

( + )

( )

yx+

xyxy

xyxy

yx−

yx+

yx−

Another way you can simplify a complex fraction is to multiply its numer-

ator and denominator by the LCD of all the fractions in its numerator and

denominator.

Problem Simplify:

11

11

xy

xy

+

–

.

Solution

Step 1. Multiply the numerator and denominator by the LCD of all the

fractions.

11

11

xy

xy

+

–

=

xy xy

xy xy

11

11

⎛ +

⎝

⎛⎛⎛⎛

⎝⎝

⎛⎛⎛⎛ ⎞

⎠

⎞⎞⎞

⎠⎠

⎞⎞⎞⎞

⎛

⎝

⎛⎛⎛⎛

⎝⎝

⎛⎛⎛⎛ ⎞

⎠

⎞⎞⎞⎞

⎠⎠

⎞⎞⎞⎞

–

=

xy x xy y

xy x xy y

⋅+⋅

⋅⋅xy

(^11) +xy
(^11) – xy

=

yx

yx

+