Question

3. Why can the numerator and denominator of a rational expression be divided by their common factors? What conditions must be placed on the value of the variables when a rational expression is simplified?

Answer 1

Explanation:

Hello, do you agree that for any real number a (different from 0)

`(a)/(a)=1`

?

5/5 = 1 for instance.

So, when you have the same common factor at the numerator and at the denominator you can eliminate it. For instance.

`(10)/(4)=(5*2)/(2*2)=(5)/(2)\cdot (2)/(2)=(5)/(2)`

You just need to be careful with 0, as dividing by 0 is not allowed.

Hope this helps

Thank you.