3a + b
---------
6a + 2b
explanation would be useful.
thanks
2007-07-09 05:29:39 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
We need to have the same thing on the top and bottom to cancel out
3a+b
-------
2(3a+b)
now the 3a+b cancel out
1/2 is the solution
2007-07-09 05:32:30 · answer #1 · answered by leo 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you look carefully at the fraction you will observe that the value of the lower term is exactly 2 times the value of the upper term.
In other words 2 times (3a+b) = 6a+2b.
So if you divide both above and below the line by 3a+b you get 1 on the top line (3a+b divided by itself = 1), and 2 on the bottom line. We have already seen above that
2 times (3a+b) = 6a+2b
1 on the top line and 2 on the bottom gives us 1/2
Which, as I am sure you are aware, is one half.
Easy isn't it.
2007-07-09 06:07:07 · answer #2 · answered by doshiealan 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, keep in mind that you can remove equal parts from the top and bottom of a fraction, so long as you multiply or divide them out equally from the entire numerator and denominator.
So, for example, in (2 * 8) /( 3 * 8) we would divide top and bottom by 8, leaving 2/3.
In your fraction, you need to change the denominator to read as:
3a + b
--------
2(3a + b)
You can now divide (3a + b) from top and bottom and end up with
1 / 2
2007-07-09 05:36:28 · answer #3 · answered by Diminati 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try dividing the denominator by the numerator:
You can see that 3a*2=6a, let's try to subtract 2*(3a + b) from
6a + 2b ....
2*(3a + b) = 6a + 2b
(3a + b) / (6a + 2b) = (3a +b)/[2(3a + b)] = 1/2
Provided that 3a + b is not equal to 0.
2007-07-09 05:35:30 · answer #4 · answered by Amit Y 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
alright, take a look at the denominator
6a + 2 b is also 2(3a + b)
therefore since the top is also (3a+b) it cancels out!
Ur left with 1/2 as the final fraction!
voila!
2007-07-09 05:34:31 · answer #5 · answered by etudiant87 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
6a + 2b can be rewritten as 2 * (3a + b). That gives you:
3a + b
-------------
2*(3a + b)
you can cancel those terms, leaving you with 1/2
2007-07-09 05:33:23 · answer #6 · answered by shark3189 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Factor:
3a + b/[2*(3a + b)], so the 3a + b is common to both numerator and denomenator, and are factored out, leaving 1/2.
2007-07-09 05:34:00 · answer #7 · answered by John V 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
the a's cancel and the b's cancel so your left with 3+1/ 6+2 which is actually 4/8 which simplifies to 1/2.
2007-07-09 05:33:03 · answer #8 · answered by Brian M 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
6a + 2b = 2 * (3a + b)
(3a + b) / (2 * (3a + b))
1/2
2007-07-09 05:34:12 · answer #9 · answered by TychaBrahe 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
3a+b/6a+2b
divide both side by 3a+b
1/2+2
1/4
2007-07-09 05:33:35 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋