How do you simplify #13/18-1/26div9/13#?

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Answer 1 · 2016-12-20T08:05:45

#2/3#

#color(blue)(13/18)color(red)( -1/26 div 9/13)#

There are 2 terms. Simplify each as far as possible and do the subtraction as the last step.

To divide, multiply by the reciprocal.

It is useful to cancel where possible as long as it is only through a multiply sign. This makes the numbers smaller and easier to work with:

#=color(blue)(13/18)color(red)( -1/cancel26^2 xxcancel13^1/9)" "larr# cancel then multiply

#=13/18 -1/18" "#

#=(13-1)/18#

#=12/18" "larr# simplify

#=2/3#

You will see that the answer is the same as using the slightly different method of another contributor.