Mixed Expressions
A mixed expression, commonly called a complex fraction , is a fraction where the numerator, the denominator or both the numerator and denominator contain a fraction.
We can use the rules of algebra to manipulate these expressions into rational ones.
Example 1:
Simplify:
First, rewrite the denominator as a single rational expression.
Since the fraction line means divide, rewrite the problem as multiplication by the reciprocal .
This is a rational expression.
A second method we can use is to multiply the numerator and denominator of the original improper fraction by the LCD of the two fractions (which will be another name for ).
Example 2:
Simplify:
Multiply both numerator and denominator by .