Final answer:
Option (B), To simplify a complex fraction, multiply the numerators and denominators, simplify by common factors, and subtract exponents for exponential terms.
Step-by-step explanation:
To simplify a complex fraction, the commonly suggested method is to multiply the numerators together and multiply the denominators together while simplifying by common factors as needed. This process may involve finding a common denominator if dealing with a complex fraction where the numerator and denominator themselves are fractions with different denominators. Multiplying fractions involves multiplying the top numbers (numerators) together and then dividing by the bottom numbers (denominators) in the fractions. Importantly, units or variables that appear in both the numerator and denominator can cancel each other out, simplifying the expression further.
In some cases, especially when dealing with exponential expressions, you can simply divide the digit term of the numerator by the digit term of the denominator and subtract the exponents of the exponential terms. Always remember that when adding fractions, you can only add numerators if the fractions share the same denominator; denominators should never be added. Lastly, after simplifying, consider if your result makes sense - ensuring the ratio remains a small whole-number ratio, for example, in the context of a chemical equation.