Question

Simplify rac{8b^{3}}{ 20b^{3} } " alt=" \frac{8b^{3}}{ 20b^{3} } " align="absmiddle" class="latex-formula">

Answer 1

8 b³ / 20 b³

May be easier to handle if you write it like this: 

                           ( 8 / 20 ) x ( b³ / b³ )

In the first fraction, divide top and bottom by 4, and it becomes ( 2 / 5 ).

In the second fraction, divide top and bottom by  b³, and it becomes  ( 1 / 1 ).

Now the problem is  ( 2 / 5 ) x ( 1 / 1 ).      This is   2/5  .

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Easier way:

8 b³ / 20 b³

Divide the top by   4b³  and it becomes  2 .

Divide the bottom by  4b³  and it becomes  5 .

Now the fraction is  2/5 .

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The important thing to understand:

         (8 of anything) / (20 of the same thing)  =  2/5

It doesn't matter if the things are cows, stones, leaves, or  'b³'s.