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#1 2005-09-14 19:51:54

altar
Member
Registered: 2005-09-14
Posts: 5

very easy problem solving, but I'm just soooooooo bad at this

I decided to get back into learning how to solve these little problems that used to drive me mad when I was a kid. I found a website that explains problem solving by using an example BUT there's a fraction simplification I just don't understand.
The part I don't understand is the simplification of:
by_Faizah=m-(1/3m-4)/4-3  into m/6-2   If someone could explain that to me I'd be most grateful.
(I had to copy the entire image so sorry it's very long..)
mints1.GIF

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#2 2005-09-14 20:42:46

Jai Ganesh
Administrator
Registered: 2005-06-28
Posts: 45,956

Re: very easy problem solving, but I'm just soooooooo bad at this

by_Faizah=m-(1/3m-4)/4-3 
This should be written as   {[m-(1/3m-4)]/4}-3

= {[m - 1/3m +4]/4}-3

= {[2/3m+4]/4}-3

= {[(2m+12)/3]/4}/ - 3

= {[2m+12]/12} - 3

= {[2m+12]-36}/12

= {2m - 24}/12

= m/6 - 2


It appears to me that if one wants to make progress in mathematics, one should study the masters and not the pupils. - Niels Henrik Abel.

Nothing is better than reading and gaining more and more knowledge - Stephen William Hawking.

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#3 2005-09-14 21:00:45

altar
Member
Registered: 2005-09-14
Posts: 5

Re: very easy problem solving, but I'm just soooooooo bad at this

Thanks big_smile  I think I got it, but I must work on my algebra. m-1/3m = 2/3m is so obvious but my brain refuses to see it.. aaah my head!

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#4 2005-09-14 21:24:06

altar
Member
Registered: 2005-09-14
Posts: 5

Re: very easy problem solving, but I'm just soooooooo bad at this

just a little question here,
you wrote:
= {[2m+12]/12} - 3

= {[2m+12]-36}/12

= {2m - 24}/12

= m/6 - 2

Would the following be correct also?
= {[2m+12]/12} - 3

=  [2m/12] +1-3

= m/6 - 2

?

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#5 2005-09-14 22:10:43

Jai Ganesh
Administrator
Registered: 2005-06-28
Posts: 45,956

Re: very easy problem solving, but I'm just soooooooo bad at this

correct.gif


It appears to me that if one wants to make progress in mathematics, one should study the masters and not the pupils. - Niels Henrik Abel.

Nothing is better than reading and gaining more and more knowledge - Stephen William Hawking.

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#6 2005-09-14 23:16:49

altar
Member
Registered: 2005-09-14
Posts: 5

Re: very easy problem solving, but I'm just soooooooo bad at this

How about this one?
= {m - [1/3m -4] - [m/6 -2]  /2} -2
The result is given: m/4+1
= {m - [1/3m -4] - [m/6 -2]  /2} -2
= {       2/3m +4  - [m/6 -2]  /2} -2
= {       2/3m +4  - [m/6 -12/6]  /2} -2
=         2/6m +2  - [m/12 +12/12]   -2
=         4/12m +2  - m/12 +1   -2
=         m/4 +1

Was that right? (I always get some sign changes wrong..)

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#7 2005-09-14 23:45:45

Jai Ganesh
Administrator
Registered: 2005-06-28
Posts: 45,956

Re: very easy problem solving, but I'm just soooooooo bad at this

altar wrote:

How about this one?
= {m - [1/3m -4] - [m/6 -2]  /2} -2
The result is given: m/4+1
= {m - [1/3m -4] - [m/6 -2]  /2} -2
= {       2/3m +4  - [m/6 -2]  /2} -2
= {       2/3m +4  - [m/6 -12/6]  /2} -2

= {2/3m +4 - m/12 +1}-2

= {2/3m - m/12 + 5} - 2

= 11/12m + 5 - 2

= 11/12m + 3

= (11m+36)/12


It appears to me that if one wants to make progress in mathematics, one should study the masters and not the pupils. - Niels Henrik Abel.

Nothing is better than reading and gaining more and more knowledge - Stephen William Hawking.

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#8 2005-09-15 01:35:36

altar
Member
Registered: 2005-09-14
Posts: 5

Re: very easy problem solving, but I'm just soooooooo bad at this

Thanks a lot big_smile

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#9 2005-09-17 03:08:17

i need help
Guest

Re: very easy problem solving, but I'm just soooooooo bad at this

There are three houses in a row and in the other side there are three fountains, each house must take water from each fountain without the pipes intersecting. The problem must be solved in two dimensions.

#10 2006-03-29 12:38:36

kenner101
Guest

Re: very easy problem solving, but I'm just soooooooo bad at this

WeLl,
i KiNdA' gEt It BuT nOt mUcH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

#11 2006-04-08 21:48:50

hope
Guest

Re: very easy problem solving, but I'm just soooooooo bad at this

altar wrote:

I decided to get back into learning how to solve these little problems that used to drive me mad when I was a kid. I found a website that explains problem solving by using an example BUT there's a fraction simplification I just don't understand.
The part I don't understand is the simplification of:
by_Faizah=m-(1/3m-4)/4-3  into m/6-2   If someone could explain that to me I'd be most grateful.
(I had to copy the entire image so sorry it's very long..)
http://www.hawaii.edu/suremath/k4_12dir … mints1.GIF

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