Question

How do you simplify `12\cdot \frac { 40} { 64}`?

Answer 1

See a solution process below:

Explanation:

First, rewrite the expression as:

`(12 * 40)/64`

Next, factor the expression as:

#(4 * 3 * 4 * 2 * 5)/(4 * 4 * 2 * 2)

Then, cancel common terms in the numerator and denominator:

`(color(red)(cancel(color(black)(4))) * 3 * color(blue)(cancel(color(black)(4))) * color(green)(cancel(color(black)(2))) * 5)/(color(red)(cancel(color(black)(4))) * color(blue)(cancel(color(black)(4))) * color(green)(cancel(color(black)(2))) * 2) => (3 * 5)/2 => 15/2`

Or

`7.5`