Introduction to Simplifying Complex Fractions

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 123 views

Introduction to Simplifying Complex Fractions

Simplifying complex fractions can be a challenging task, especially when dealing with multiple variables and expressions. In this article, we will focus on simplifying the given complex fraction: $\frac{\frac{4}{m^2 - 7m + 12}}{\frac{3}{m - 3} - \frac{2}{m - 4}}$ . We will break down the problem step by step, using various techniques to simplify the expression.

Understanding the Structure of the Complex Fraction

Before we start simplifying the complex fraction, let's take a closer look at its structure. The complex fraction consists of two main parts: the numerator and the denominator. The numerator is a fraction with a quadratic expression in the denominator, while the denominator is a fraction with two separate fractions in the numerator and a linear expression in the denominator.

Simplifying the Quadratic Expression in the Numerator

The first step in simplifying the complex fraction is to simplify the quadratic expression in the numerator. The quadratic expression is $m^2 - 7m + 12$ . We can factor this expression as $(m - 3)(m - 4)$ . Therefore, the numerator can be rewritten as $\frac{4}{(m - 3)(m - 4)}$ .

Simplifying the Denominator

The denominator of the complex fraction is a fraction with two separate fractions in the numerator. We can simplify this expression by finding a common denominator for the two fractions. The common denominator is $(m - 3)(m - 4)$ . Therefore, the denominator can be rewritten as $\frac{3(m - 4) - 2(m - 3)}{(m - 3)(m - 4)}$ .

Simplifying the Expression in the Denominator

Now that we have a common denominator, we can simplify the expression in the denominator. The expression is $\frac{3(m - 4) - 2(m - 3)}{(m - 3)(m - 4)}$ . We can simplify this expression by combining like terms: $3(m - 4) - 2(m - 3) = 3m - 12 - 2m + 6 = m - 6$ . Therefore, the denominator can be rewritten as $\frac{m - 6}{(m - 3)(m - 4)}$ .

Simplifying the Complex Fraction

Now that we have simplified the numerator and the denominator, we can simplify the complex fraction. The complex fraction is $\frac{\frac{4}{(m - 3)(m - 4)}}{\frac{m - 6}{(m - 3)(m - 4)}}$ . We can simplify this expression by canceling out the common factors in the numerator and the denominator. The common factors are $(m - 3)(m - 4)$ and $(m - 6)$ . Therefore, the complex fraction can be rewritten as $\frac{4}{m - 6}$ .

Conclusion

In this article, we simplified the complex fraction: $\frac{\frac{4}{m^2 - 7m + 12}}{\frac{3}{m - 3} - \frac{2}{m - 4}}$ . We broke down the problem step by step, using various techniques to simplify the expression. We simplified the quadratic expression in the numerator, the denominator, and the expression in the denominator. Finally, we simplified the complex fraction by canceling out the common factors in the numerator and the denominator. The simplified complex fraction is $\frac{4}{m - 6}$ .

Final Answer

The final answer is $\boxed{\frac{4}{m - 6}}$ .

Step-by-Step Solution

Here is the step-by-step solution to the problem:

Simplify the quadratic expression in the numerator: $m^2 - 7m + 12 = (m - 3)(m - 4)$ .
Rewrite the numerator as $\frac{4}{(m - 3)(m - 4)}$ .
Simplify the denominator: $\frac{3}{m - 3} - \frac{2}{m - 4} = \frac{3(m - 4) - 2(m - 3)}{(m - 3)(m - 4)} = \frac{m - 6}{(m - 3)(m - 4)}$ .
Simplify the complex fraction: $\frac{\frac{4}{(m - 3)(m - 4)}}{\frac{m - 6}{(m - 3)(m - 4)}} = \frac{4}{m - 6}$ .

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about the problem:

Q: What is the simplified complex fraction? A: The simplified complex fraction is $\frac{4}{m - 6}$ .
Q: How do I simplify the quadratic expression in the numerator? A: You can simplify the quadratic expression by factoring it as $(m - 3)(m - 4)$ .
Q: How do I simplify the denominator? A: You can simplify the denominator by finding a common denominator for the two fractions and combining like terms.
Q: How do I simplify the complex fraction? A: You can simplify the complex fraction by canceling out the common factors in the numerator and the denominator.

Introduction

In our previous article, we simplified the complex fraction: $\frac{\frac{4}{m^2 - 7m + 12}}{\frac{3}{m - 3} - \frac{2}{m - 4}}$ . We broke down the problem step by step, using various techniques to simplify the expression. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions about the problem.

Q&A

Q: What is the simplified complex fraction?

A: The simplified complex fraction is $\frac{4}{m - 6}$ .

Q: How do I simplify the quadratic expression in the numerator?

A: You can simplify the quadratic expression by factoring it as $(m - 3)(m - 4)$ . This will help you rewrite the numerator as $\frac{4}{(m - 3)(m - 4)}$ .

Q: How do I simplify the denominator?

A: You can simplify the denominator by finding a common denominator for the two fractions and combining like terms. In this case, the common denominator is $(m - 3)(m - 4)$ . Therefore, the denominator can be rewritten as $\frac{m - 6}{(m - 3)(m - 4)}$ .

Q: How do I simplify the complex fraction?

A: You can simplify the complex fraction by canceling out the common factors in the numerator and the denominator. In this case, the common factors are $(m - 3)(m - 4)$ and $(m - 6)$ . Therefore, the complex fraction can be rewritten as $\frac{4}{m - 6}$ .

Q: What if I have a different quadratic expression in the numerator?

A: If you have a different quadratic expression in the numerator, you can try factoring it or using the quadratic formula to find the roots. Once you have factored the expression, you can rewrite the numerator and simplify the complex fraction.

Q: What if I have a different denominator?

A: If you have a different denominator, you can try finding a common denominator for the two fractions and combining like terms. Once you have simplified the denominator, you can rewrite the complex fraction and simplify it.

Q: Can I use a calculator to simplify the complex fraction?

A: Yes, you can use a calculator to simplify the complex fraction. However, it's always a good idea to check your work by hand to make sure you understand the steps involved in simplifying the complex fraction.

Q: How do I know if the complex fraction is simplified?

A: You can check if the complex fraction is simplified by looking for common factors in the numerator and the denominator. If you find any common factors, you can cancel them out to simplify the complex fraction.