How do you evaluate #\frac{32}{1}\times \frac{2}{4}#?

1 Answer
Jim G.
Dec 10, 2016

#16#

Explanation:

When we are multiplying 2 fractions together we can #color(blue)"cancel"# any #color(blue)"common factors"# that exist on the numerators/denominators of the fractions.

There is a choice here as 2 and 4 have a common factor of 2 and 32 and 4 have common factors of 2 and 4.

#rArr32/1xxcancel(2)^1/cancel(4)^2=cancel(32)^(16)/1xx1/cancel(2)^1=(16xx1)/(1xx1)=16#

#color(red)"or"#

#cancel(32)^8/1xx2/cancel(4)^1=(8xx2)/(1xx1)=16#

Either method is valid and it depends only on ' how you see it'

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