what steps do i suppose to take when simplify the complex fraction -3 divided by 5/x+y?

Answer 1

-3 / 5/ x+y=
-3/5 * 1/x+y=
-3(1)/(5)(x+y)=
-3/5(x+y)

Answer 2

To divide fractions you need fractions, so

-3 / (5 / (x + y) ) = (-3/1) / (5 / (x + y) )

Invert and multiply

(-3/1) * (x + y) / 5

Numerator times numerator - Denominator times denominator

-3(x + y) / 5 or = (-3x - 3y) / 5

Answer 3

Use the fact that a / (b/c) = a * (c/b).

You used this fact when you first learned how to divide fractions in grammar school: divide by flipping over the second fraction and then multiplying.

Answer 4

-3 / { 5/x+y }

can be written as :

-3 * { ( x+y )/ 5 } = -3(x+y)/5

.

Answer 5

-3/(5/(x+y))
invert the denominator and multiply

-3(x+y)/5