Rule 5: The Division Symbol in a Simple Fractions
Rule 5: The Division Symbol in a Simple Fractions
The Division Symbol - in a simple fraction tells the reader that the entire expression above the division symbol is the numerator and must be treated as if it were one number, and the entire expression below the division symbol is the denominator and must be treated as if it were one number.
A fraction written as 
instructs the
reader that the numerator is the entire expression (6 + 10) and that
denominator is the entire expression (4 - 7). The numerator can also
be written as 16 and the denominator can also be written as -3. The
division symbol acts similar to a parenthesis or a bracket. Since
can be written 
, it is a simple
fraction.
Example 1: Simplify the fraction 
.
Answer. The numerator 7+2 can be simplified to 9,
and the denominator -8+1 can be simplified to -7. The fraction
can be written as 
.
Example 2: Simplify the fraction 
.
Answer. The numerator 15-25 can be simplified to -10,
and the denominator 5-10 can be simplified to -5. The fraction
can be written as 
.
Work the following problems and click
on Answer to check your results.
Problem 1: State the numerator and denominator of
.
Problem 2: State the numerator and denominator of
.
Problem 3: State the numerator and denominator of
.
Problem 4: State the numerator and denominator of
.
Problem 5: State the numerator and denominator of
.
Problem 6: State the numerator and denominator of
.
Problem 7: Simplify the fraction 
.
Problem 8: Simplify the fraction 
.
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