For instance, let's consider the equation x 2 - 5x + 6 = 0. As hinted at above, another reason you may want to factor your expression has to do with the fact that factoring can reveal answers to certain equations, especially when those equations are written as expressions equal to 0.In other words, with (x - 3)(x - 2)/(2(x - 2)), the (x - 2) terms cancel, leaving us with (x - 3)/2.
So, if x 2 - 5x + 6 is the numerator of a certain expression with one of these factor terms in the denominator, like is the case with the expression (x 2 - 5x + 6)/(2(x - 2)), we may want to write it in factored form so that we can cancel it with the denominator. This expression can factor to (x - 3)(x - 2).
In variable fractions, cancel out variable factors. Repeating the above procedure, we are left with 3/5. However, we're not done yet - both 6 and 10 share the factor 2. If we don't, however, we can still simplify by removing common factors. If we have a calculator handy, we can divide to get an answer of. For example, let's consider the fraction 36/60.In other words, if both the numerator and denominator share a factor, this factor can be removed from the fraction, leaving a simplified answer. In addition, any multiplicative factors that appear both in the numerator and denominator can be "canceled" because they divide to give the number 1. First, and perhaps easiest, is to simply treat the fraction as a division problem and divide the numerator by the denominator. Fractions that have only numbers (and no variables) in both the numerator and denominator can be simplified in several ways. Simplify numerical fractions by dividing or "canceling out" factors. Note - if there are multiple parentheses nested inside one another, solve the innermost terms first, than the second-innermost, and so on.If we simply went from left to right, we might instead add 3 and 4 first, then divide by 2, giving the incorrect answer of 7/2. The second parenthetical term simplifies to 5 because, owing to the order of operations, we divide 4/2 as our first act inside the parentheses.In this expression, we would solve the terms in parentheses, 5 + 2 and 3 + 4/2, first. As an example, let's try to simplify the expression 2x + 4(5 + 2) + 3 2 - (3 + 4/2).For instance, within parentheses, you should multiply before you add, subtract, etc. Note that, however, within each pair of parentheses, the order of operations still applies. Regardless of the operations being performed within them, be sure to tackle the terms in parentheses as your first act when you attempt to simplify an expression. In math, parentheses indicate that the terms inside should be calculated separately from the surrounding expression.
Start by solving all of the terms in parentheses.