ramstin said:O.k. I am trying to figure out what defines an algebraic fraction. I know it has something to do with the denominator but for the life of me I can not make any sense out of my textbook examples. Like 3/2x = 0 I guess 3/x*x = 3 divided by no actual number which would be zero but that is the best I can work out after 4 hours of trying to do this section of my homework.
ramstin said:O.k. if I have a^2-10a+21/a^2-11a+28 I then get 21/-1a+28 and then 3/-a+4 but my book says I should get a-3/a-4 How did that happen?
ramstin said:even with simplifying how do you get an a on both sides when their is an odd number of them to begin with?
An algebraic fraction is a mathematical expression that contains algebraic terms (such as variables, constants, and/or operations) in both the numerator and denominator. It is usually written in the form of a/b, where a and b are algebraic expressions.
An algebraic fraction is different from a numerical fraction because it contains variables and algebraic expressions in addition to numbers. This means that the value of an algebraic fraction can change depending on the values assigned to the variables, while the value of a numerical fraction remains constant.
The main rule for simplifying algebraic fractions is to factor both the numerator and denominator and then cancel out any common factors. This process can be repeated until the fraction is in its simplest form. Another important rule is to never divide by 0, as it is undefined.
Yes, algebraic fractions can contain square roots or other radicals. These expressions can be simplified just like any other algebraic term by factoring and canceling out common factors. However, the final result may not always be a rational (aka numerical) expression.
Algebraic fractions are used in many real-life situations, such as calculating proportions in cooking or mixing chemicals in a lab. They are also used in physics and engineering to solve problems involving rates, distances, and other variables. Additionally, algebraic fractions are used in finance and economics to calculate interest rates, profit margins, and other financial ratios.