If a rational expression is expressed in factored form, we can sometimes make the expression even simpler by pulling out factors that are common in both the numerator and denominator.

For example, suppose that we want to simplify the rational expression

\dfrac{4(2x-3)}{2}.

If we decompose 4 into 2\cdot 2, we can pull out a factor of 2 from both the numerator and denominator:

\begin{align} \require{cancel} \dfrac{4(2x-3)}{2} & = \\[5pt] \dfrac{2\cdot 2 \cdot (2x-3)}{2} & = \\[5pt] \dfrac{2}{2} \cdot \dfrac{2 \cdot (2x-3)}{1}. \end{align}

The fraction \dfrac{2}{2} is the same as 1, and anything times 1 is just itself, so

\begin{align} \require{cancel} \dfrac{2}{2} \cdot \dfrac{2 \cdot (2x-3)}{1} & = \\[5pt] 1 \cdot \dfrac{2 \cdot (2x-3)}{1} & = \\[5pt] \dfrac{2 \cdot (2x-3)}{1} \\[5pt] 2(2x-3). \end{align}

Note: There is a shortcut! We can just "cancel" a 2 from the numerator and denominator.

\begin{align} \require{cancel} \dfrac{4(2x-3)}{2} & = \\[5pt] \dfrac{2\cdot 2 \cdot (2x-3)}{2} & = \\[5pt] \dfrac{\cancel{2}\cdot 2 \cdot (2x-3)}{\cancel{2}} & = \\[5pt] \dfrac{2 \cdot (2x-3)}{1} & = \\[5pt] 2(2x-3). \end{align}

FLAG

Simplify \dfrac{20}{8(z-1)}.

EXPLANATION

First, we decompose all of the terms into their prime factors. The 20 in the numerator becomes 2 \cdot 2 \cdot 5, and the 8(z-1) in the denominator becomes 2 \cdot 2 \cdot 2 \cdot (z-1).

\require{cancel} \begin{align*} \dfrac{20}{8(z-1)} = \dfrac{2 \cdot 2 \cdot 5}{2 \cdot 2 \cdot 2 \cdot (z-1)} \end{align*}

Then, we cancel out all the pairs of common factors in the numerator and denominator. In this case, there are two pairs of 2 's.

\require{cancel} \begin{align*} \dfrac{2 \cdot 2 \cdot 5}{2 \cdot 2 \cdot 2 \cdot (z-1)} &=\\[5pt] \dfrac{\cancel{2} \cdot \cancel{2} \cdot 5}{ \cancel{2} \cdot \cancel{2} \cdot 2 \cdot (z-1)} &=\\[5pt] \dfrac{5}{2 \cdot (z-1)} &=\\[5pt] \dfrac{5}{2(z-1)} \end{align*}

Thus, the expression simplifies to \dfrac{5}{2(z-1)}.

FLAG

$\dfrac {12(a-4)} {18} = $

a
$\dfrac{a-4}{6}$
b
$\dfrac{6}{a-4}$
c
$\dfrac{4}{9}$
d
$\dfrac{3(a-4)}{2}$
e
$\dfrac{2(a-4)}{3}$

$\dfrac {10x} {12(x+1)} = $

a
$\dfrac{5x}{6(x+1)}$
b
$\dfrac{4(x+1)}{3x}$
c
$\dfrac{5}{6}$
d
$\dfrac{x}{x+1}$
e
$\dfrac{3x}{4(x+1)}$

Simplify \dfrac{3y}{y(y+1)}.

EXPLANATION

First, we decompose all of the terms into their prime factors.

\require{cancel} \begin{align*} \dfrac{3y}{y(y+1)} = \dfrac{3 \cdot y}{y \cdot (y+1)} \end{align*}

Then, we cancel out all the pairs of common factors in the numerator and denominator. In this case, there is one pair of y 's.

\require{cancel} \begin{align*} \dfrac{3 \cdot y}{y \cdot (y+1)} &=\\[5pt] \dfrac{3 \cdot \cancel{y} }{ \cancel{y} \cdot (y+1)} &=\\[5pt] \dfrac{3}{y+1} \end{align*}

Thus, the expression simplifies to \dfrac{3}{y+1}.

FLAG

Which of the following is equivalent to $\dfrac {x(x + 1)} {7x}?$

a
$\dfrac{x^2 + x} {7}$
b
$\dfrac {x(x + 1)} {7}$
c
$\dfrac {x} {7}$
d
$\dfrac {x + 1} {7}$
e
$\dfrac {x + 1} {x}$

What is $\dfrac {xy} {xz}$ reduced to lowest terms?

a
$\dfrac {x} {z}$
b
$\dfrac {xy} {z}$
c
$\dfrac {xy} {xz}$
d
$\dfrac {z} {x}$
e
$\dfrac {y} {z}$

Simplify \dfrac{6y(x - 2)}{9yz}.

EXPLANATION

First, we decompose all of the terms into their prime factors. The 6y(x-2) in the numerator becomes 2\cdot 3 \cdot y \cdot (x-2), and the 9yz in the denominator becomes 3\cdot 3 \cdot y \cdot z.

\require{cancel} \begin{align*} \dfrac{6y(x - 2)}{9yz} = \dfrac{2\cdot 3\cdot y \cdot (x - 2)}{3\cdot 3 \cdot y \cdot z} \end{align*}

Then, we cancel out all the pairs of common factors in the numerator and denominator. In this case, there is one pair of 3 's and one pair of y 's.

\require{cancel} \begin{align*} \dfrac{2\cdot 3\cdot y \cdot (x - 2)}{3\cdot 3 \cdot y \cdot z} &=\\[5pt] \dfrac{2\cdot \cancel{3} \cdot \cancel{y} \cdot (x - 2)}{\cancel{3}\cdot 3 \cdot \cancel{y} \cdot z} &=\\[5pt] \dfrac{2\cdot(x - 2)}{3z} &=\\[5pt] \dfrac{2(x - 2)}{3z} \end{align*}

Thus, the expression simplifies to \dfrac{2(x - 2)}{3z}.

FLAG

$\dfrac {14y(y+5)} {21y} = $

a
$\dfrac{2y}{3}$
b
$\dfrac{2(y+5)}{3}$
c
$\dfrac{2(y+5)}{3y}$
d
$\dfrac{2y(y+5)}{7}$
e
$\dfrac{y(y+5)}{7}$

$\dfrac {6ab } {15 a} = $

a
$\dfrac{2}{5}$
b
$\dfrac{2b}{5a}$
c
$\dfrac{2b}{5}$
d
$\dfrac{b}{3a}$
e
$\dfrac{2ab}{5}$

Simplify \dfrac{6a(c+1)}{3b(c+1)}.

EXPLANATION

First, we decompose all of the terms into their prime factors. The 6a(c+1) in the numerator becomes 2\cdot 3 \cdot a \cdot (c+1), and the 3b(c+1) in the denominator becomes 3\cdot b \cdot (c+1).

\require{cancel} \begin{align*} \dfrac{6a(c+1)}{3b(c+1)} = \dfrac{2\cdot 3\cdot a\cdot(c+1)}{3\cdot b\cdot (c+1)} \end{align*}

Then, we cancel out all the pairs of common factors in the numerator and denominator. In this case, there is one pair of 3 's and one pair of (c+1) 's.

\require{cancel} \begin{align*} \dfrac{2\cdot 3\cdot a\cdot(c+1)}{3\cdot b\cdot (c+1)} &=\\[5pt] \dfrac{2\cdot \cancel{3}\cdot a \cdot \cancel{(c+1)} }{\cancel{3}\cdot b \cdot \cancel{(c+1)} } &=\\[5pt] \dfrac{2\cdot a}{b} &=\\[5pt] \dfrac{2a}{b} \end{align*}

Thus, the expression simplifies to \dfrac{2a}{b}.

FLAG

What is $\dfrac {18b(3-c)}{12(3-c)}$ reduced to lowest terms?

a
$3b$
b
$\dfrac{3b}{3-c}$
c
$3(3-c)$
d
$\dfrac{3b}{2}$
e
$9b$

$\dfrac {10 (y + 3)} {5 (y + 3) }=$

a
$2$
b
$\dfrac{y+3}{2}$
c
$10 (y + 3)$
d
$\dfrac {2} {(y + 3) }$
e
$(y + 3)$
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