GRE Math : How to add complex fractions

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 :Complex Fractions

Solve:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To simplify a complex fraction, simply invert the denomenator and multiply by the numerator:

Multiplying the numerator by the reciprocal of the denominator for each term we get:

Since we have a common denominator we can now add these two terms.

Example Question #2 :Complex Fractions

Simplify:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

虽然你可以找公分母of the fraction as it has been written, it is probably easiest to rewrite the fraction in slightly simpler terms. Thus, recall that you can rewrite your fraction as:

Using the rule for dividing fractions, you can rewrite your expression as:

Then, you can multiply each set of fractions, getting:

This makes things very easy, for then your value is:

Example Question #3 :Complex Fractions

Simplify:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

For this problem, begin by rewriting the complex fraction, using the rule for dividing fractions:

This is much easier to work on. Cancel out thes and theand the, this gives you:

, which is merely. Thus, your problem is:

The common denominator is, so you can rewrite this as:

Example Question #4 :Complex Fractions

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Begin by simplifying all terms inside the parentheses. Begin with the innermost set. Find a common denominator for the two terms. In this case, the common denominator will be twenty:

Simplifytoand convertto not a mixed fraction:

Multiply the two fractions in the parentheses by multiplying straight across (A quick shortcut would be to factor out the 10 on top and bottom).

Now convertto a non-mixed fraction. It will become.

In order to subtract the two fractions, find a common denominator. In this case, it will be 70.

Now subtract, and find the answer!

is the answer

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