Question

How do you simplify `1/4+1/3div4/5`?

Answer 1

`2/3`

Explanation:

We must perform the division first before adding.

To perform division follow the steps.

• Leave the first fraction

• Change division to multiplication

• Invert (turn upside down) the second fraction

• Cancel any common factors if possible

`rArr1/3÷4/5=1/3xx5/4larr" multiply and invert"`

There are no common factors.

`=(1xx5)/(3xx4)=5/12`

We now simplify `1/4+5/12`

To add fractions they must have a `color(blue)"common denominator"`

multiply the numerator and denominator of `1/4` by 3 to create an equivalent fraction.

`rArr1/4=(1xx3)/(4xx3)=3/12`

`"Hence " 1/4+5/12=3/12+5/12=8/12`

`"The numerator/denominator of " 8/12` can be divided by a common factor of 4

`rArr8/12=(8÷4)/(12÷4)=2/3larr" in simplest form"`

A fraction is in `color(blue)"simplest form"` when no other factor but 1 will divide into the numerator/denominator.