Question

How do you simplify `7/(4k+8)-k/(k+2)`?

Answer 1

See a solution process below:

Explanation:

To be able to add or subtract fractions, both fractions must be over a common denominator. In this case `(4k + 8)`. We can put the fraction on the right over this common denominator by multiplying the fraction by the appropriate form of `1`:

`7/(4k + 8) - (4/4 xx k/(k + 2)) =>`

`7/(4k + 8) - (4k)/(4(k + 2)) =>`

`7/(4k + 8) - (4k)/((4 * k) + (4 * 2)) =>`

`7/(4k + 8) - (4k)/(4k + 8)`

We can now subtract the numerators over the common denominator:

`7/(4k + 8) - (4k)/(4k + 8) =>`

`(7 - 4k)/(4k + 8)`