That's the correct final result. It's hard to say if your steps are correct. You skipped some steps and regrouped things in some rather curious ways.science_rules said:Homework Statement
Simplify: (a2 + 2ab + b2)/(a2 - b2) times (a2 - 2ab + b2)/(a2 - b2)
Homework Equations
(a2 + 2ab + b2)/(a2 - b2) times (a2 - 2ab + b2)/(a2 - b2)
The Attempt at a Solution
Did I simplify this correctly?? (a+b)(a+b)/((a-b)(a+b)) times (a-b)(a-b)/((a-b)(a+b)) = ((a+b)/(a+b)) times ((a-b)/(a-b)) = (a+b)(a-b)/((a+b)(a-b)) = 1 times 1 = 1 Answer
Simplifying a fraction is the process of reducing a fraction to its simplest form by dividing both the numerator and denominator by their greatest common factor.
You can check if a fraction has been simplified correctly by making sure that the numerator and denominator have no common factors (other than 1) and that the fraction cannot be reduced any further.
Yes, all fractions can be simplified to their simplest form. However, some fractions may already be in their simplest form and therefore cannot be simplified any further.
The greatest common factor (GCF) is the largest number that can evenly divide into both the numerator and denominator of a fraction. It is also known as the highest common factor (HCF).
Yes, simplifying a fraction is the same as finding the lowest terms. Both processes involve reducing a fraction to its simplest form.