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#1 2008-03-03 07:43:35
- trader
- Member
- Registered: 2008-03-03
- Posts: 2
Help With Complex Fraction
Can someone please help me with this problem? I am stuck. The dotted lines are supposed to be solid lines. Thanks for any help.
4a
---------
2a³ + 2
-------------------------
8a
---------
4a + 4
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#2 2008-03-03 07:49:26
- Daniel123
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- Registered: 2007-05-23
- Posts: 663
Re: Help With Complex Fraction
I presume you want to simplify it?
Remembering that a fraction is the same as dividing,
When you divide by a fraction, it is the same as multiplying by the inverse of the fraction (i.e. the fraction flipped upside down). Therefore:
If you then multiply the top and the bottom and simplify, you will get:
Last edited by Daniel123 (2008-03-03 07:54:52)
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#3 2008-03-03 08:21:31
- trader
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Re: Help With Complex Fraction
Daniel, the answer the textbook gives is:
1/a² -a + 1
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#4 2008-03-03 08:27:27
- mathsyperson
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- Registered: 2005-06-22
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Re: Help With Complex Fraction
From here, I get
.By considering the polynomial division of (a³+1)/(a+1), you can then show that that is equal to
. To be honest though, I think it's simpler in its previous form.Why did the vector cross the road?
It wanted to be normal.
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#5 2008-03-03 08:36:10
- Daniel123
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- Registered: 2007-05-23
- Posts: 663
Re: Help With Complex Fraction
Whoops! I can see exactly what I've done. I was in the middle of writing my prefect application letter - so I wasn't paying much attention! sorry!
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#6 2008-03-03 09:19:09
- trader
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- Registered: 2008-03-03
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Re: Help With Complex Fraction
Thanks a lot guys. I appreciate the help.
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