Final answer:
Option (A), The fastest method to eliminate tricky fractions in an equation is to multiply by the common denominator. This method simplifies the equation by clearing or combining the fractions after a common denominator is found.
Step-by-step explanation:
The fastest way to eliminate tricky fractions in an equation is A) Multiply by the common denominator. This method involves finding a common denominator for all the fractions involved in the equation and then multiplying each term of the equation by that common denominator. The process of finding a common denominator ensures that we can combine the fractions or clear them completely, facilitating the solution of the equation.
When dealing with fractions in equations, certain strategies can simplify the process. Multiplying by the reciprocal is useful when you want to get rid of a fraction in a division operation, by flipping the numerator and denominator of the fraction you're dividing by.
Cross-multiplying is generally used in equations with two fractions set equal to each other, such as proportions. Lastly, adding numerators is only valid when fractions have the same denominator, and this approach does not apply to clearing fractions from an equation.