Question

How do you simplify the sum of `\frac { 1} { 6w } + \frac { 5} { 6w }`? Are there any restrictions on the variable?

Answer 1

See the entire solution process below:

Explanation:

Because both fractions have the same denominator the numerators can be added over the common denominator:

`1/(6w) + 5/(6w) = (1 + 5)/(6w) = 6/(6w)`

We can now cancel out the common terms in the numerator and denominator:

`6/(6w) = color(red)(cancel(color(black)(6)))/(color(red)(cancel(color(black)(6)))w) = 1/w`

The restriction is:

`6w != 0` or `w != 0` as this would cause division by `0` which is not allowed or is undefined.