How do you simplify #-54 / [(-9) / 3]#?

2 Answers
Jun 11, 2016

I would start off by simplifying the fraction below.

Explanation:

#= (-9/3)# = 3

And then divide -54 by -3 which will give you a positive answer of 18.

Did you manage to obtain 18?

Jun 11, 2016

#18#

Explanation:

Given,

#-54/(-9/3)#

Rewrite the expression as

#=-54*-3/9#

... since dividing by a fraction is the same as multiplying by its reciprocal.

As #54# and #9# can be divided by a common factor of #color(red)9#, their values are reduced.

#=-54color(red)(-:9)*-3/(9color(red)(-:9)#

Simplify.

#=-6*-3/1#

#=color(green)(|bar(ul(color(white)(a/a)color(black)(18)color(white)(a/a)|)))#