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Are the following expressions equivalent? Show work.

3xy^2 / 4y and 6xy^2 / 8xy

1 Answer

5 votes
No, they are not. When they are simplified to find if they are equivalent or not, the numerator can be divided out like so:

3xy (3xy) 6xy (6xy)
----------- -------------
4y 8xy

Then the cross-cancel method can be used to simplify the two fractions, which later simplifies to:

3x (3xy) 3 (6xy)
---------- ---------
4 4

Hence, they are not equivalent to each other.
User LTasty
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