Simple Cancellation of Fractions

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The discussion focuses on the cancellation of fractions, specifically analyzing the expressions 2/a, 1, and -a/b. The first expression simplifies by recognizing that b/b equals 1, while the second expression represents a number divided by itself, yielding 1. The third expression, (a - b)/(b - a), simplifies to -1 under the condition that b is not equal to a. These conclusions are drawn with specific restrictions on the values of a and b.

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Hello. These might be easy but I've not done this in years. What are these expressions canceled down? Not homework, I just can't do them.

[PLAIN]http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/4849/fractions.png

Thanks very much guys.
 
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Respectively, 2/a, 1, and -a/b. In the first it is assumed that b is not 0; in the second that neither a nor b is 0; in the third that b is not 0 and that b is not equal to a.

Notice that in the first problem, we can pull out b/b, which is 1. The second is some number over itself, or 1. In the third problem, (a - b)/(b - a) = (a - b)/-(a - b), or -1. These values are with the previously stated restrictions.
 

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