Quandaries and Queries
 

 

Name: Ashley

Who is asking: Student
Level: Secondary

Question:

Could you please show steps to thank you so much. (/ means fraction) 1/x(squared) + 5/xy

 

 

Hi Ashley,

You haven't told me what the question is so I will have to guess. I expect the question is to add the two fractions or write the sum with a common denominator.

The denominators are x 2 = x  x and x  y. To construct a common denominator you need x  x for the first fraction and x  y for the second. The most economical way to do this is to use the denominator x  x  y = x 2y

To change the denominator of the first fraction to  x 2y you need to multiply it by y. Thus you need to also multiply the numerator by y. Hence

To change the denominator of the second fraction to  x 2y you need to multiply it by x. Thus you need to also multiply the numerator by x. Hence

Finally

Penny
 
 

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