How to divide complex fractions

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ACT Math › How to divide complex fractions

Questions 1 - 5
1

Simplify the following:

Explanation

Begin by simplifying your numerator. Thus, find the common denominator:

Next, combine the fractions in the numerator:

Next, remember that to divide fractions, you multiply the numerator by the reciprocal of the denominator:

Since nothing needs to be simplified, this is just:

2

Simplify:

Explanation

Rewrite into the following form:

Change the division sign to a multiplication sign by flipping the 2nd term and simplify.

3

Simplify:

Explanation

The expression can be simplified as follows:

We can simplify each fraction by multiplying the numerator by the reciprocal of the denominator.

From here we add our two new fractions together and simplify.

4

Which of the following is equal to ?

Explanation

First we must take the numerator of our whole problem. There is a fraction in the numerator with as the denominator. Therefore, we multiply the numerator of our whole problem by , giving us .

Now we look at the denominator of the whole problem, and we see that there is another fraction present with as a denominator. So now, we multiply the denominator by , giving us .

Our fraction should now read . Now, we can factor our denominator, making the fraction .

Finally, we cancel out from the top and the bottom, giving us .

5

Evaluate:

Explanation

The expression can be rewritten as:

Change the division sign to a multiplication sign and take the reciprocal of the second term. Evaluate.

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