Question

Which expression is equivalent to 1/8x- 1/2?

A. 1/8(x-1/2)
B.1/8(x-1/4)
C.-1/8(x-4)
D. 1/8(x-4)

Answer 1

This is done by factoring. 1/8 is smaller than 1/2, so we can factor a 1/8 out of 1/2. This is what that looks like: , because factoring after all is a form of division. When we divide a fraction by a fraction, we bring the lower fraction up and flip it to multiply, giving us this: . This of course reduces to 4. So when we factor out 1/8, what we will have then is , choice D from above.Explanation:

Answer 2

This is done by factoring. 1/8 is smaller than 1/2, so we can factor a 1/8 out of 1/2. This is what that looks like:
`( (1)/(2) )/( (1)/(8) )`, because factoring after all is a form of division. When we divide a fraction by a fraction, we bring the lower fraction up and flip it to multiply, giving us this:
`(1)/(2) * (8)/(1)`. This of course reduces to 4. So when we factor out 1/8, what we will have then is
`(1)/(8) (x-4)`, choice D from above.