Name: Pam

Who is asking: Student
Level: Middle

Question:
Can you help me simplfy this?

(1/2a + 1/3b) - (1/4a - 1/5b) + (1/6a - 1/7)

thanx

Hi Pam,
To add fractions, wheteher they involve only integers or integers and letters, you need to first find a common denominator. For the first two fractions the denominators are 2a and 3b so for a common denominator you can use (2a)(3b) = 6ab. Thus

For the second pair of fractions the common denominator can be (4a)(5b) = 20ab, thus

You now have fractions with denominators 6ab and 20ab so 60ab is a common denominator, and hence

Now you need to add the third pair and then add what you get to the sum you have already.

Cheers
Harley