simplify the following fraction
2006-11-16 08:35:03 · 8 answers · asked by chelsea y 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
a^2 - 2ab + b^2 = (a - b) ^2
then...
(a - b)^2 / (a + b) = (a -b) (a - b) / (a + b)
2006-11-16 08:46:31 · answer #1 · answered by pkababa 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
(a^2 - 2ab + b^2)/ (a + b)
factor the numerator
(a-b)(a+b)/(a+b)
the (a+b) in the numerator and the denominator cancel eachother out thus you are left with
a-b
ANSWER
a - b
2006-11-16 08:40:58 · answer #2 · answered by trackstarr59 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe that it is simplified since the numerator is a perfect square: (a-b)^2
2006-11-16 08:37:15 · answer #3 · answered by raz 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Firstly, a² - 2ab + b² = (a - b)(a - b) = (a - b)²
Simplified as far as it will go:
(a - b)² / (a + b)
2006-11-16 08:38:30 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
(a^2 - 2ab + b^2)/ (a + b)
(a-b(^2/(a+b) that's as far as it goes.
2006-11-16 08:40:11 · answer #5 · answered by yupchagee 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
(a-b)^2/(a+b)
2006-11-16 08:39:45 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
your numbers confuse me
2006-11-16 08:43:12 · answer #7 · answered by juggums 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
(a.a) - (2a + 2b) +(b.b)/(a+b)
2006-11-17 23:20:40 · answer #8 · answered by Albert J 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋