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Simplify the expression:

[tex]\[ \frac{x}{2(x+y)} - \frac{2}{3(x+y)} \][/tex]

Sagot :

Let's simplify the expression [tex]\(\frac{x}{2(x+y)} - \frac{2}{3(x+y)}\)[/tex].

1. Identify the common denominator:

The denominators of the two fractions are [tex]\(2(x + y)\)[/tex] and [tex]\(3(x + y)\)[/tex], respectively. To combine these fractions, we need a common denominator. In this case, the common denominator is the product of [tex]\(2\)[/tex] and [tex]\(3\)[/tex], which is [tex]\(6\)[/tex], multiplied by [tex]\((x + y)\)[/tex]. Thus, the common denominator is [tex]\(6(x + y)\)[/tex].

2. Rewrite each fraction with the common denominator:

- For the first fraction [tex]\(\frac{x}{2(x + y)}\)[/tex], multiply both the numerator and the denominator by [tex]\(3\)[/tex]:

[tex]\[ \frac{x}{2(x + y)} \cdot \frac{3}{3} = \frac{3x}{6(x + y)} \][/tex]

- For the second fraction [tex]\(\frac{2}{3(x + y)}\)[/tex], multiply both the numerator and the denominator by [tex]\(2\)[/tex]:

[tex]\[ \frac{2}{3(x + y)} \cdot \frac{2}{2} = \frac{4}{6(x + y)} \][/tex]

3. Combine the fractions:

Now that both fractions have the same denominator, we can combine them:

[tex]\[ \frac{3x}{6(x + y)} - \frac{4}{6(x + y)} = \frac{3x - 4}{6(x + y)} \][/tex]

4. Further simplification (if possible):

We can leave the expression as it is or transform it into another form. Notice that the numerator [tex]\(3x - 4\)[/tex] cannot be further simplified with the denominator [tex]\(6(x + y)\)[/tex].

Alternatively, let's explore another method of expressing it:

We can rewrite [tex]\(\frac{3x - 4}{6(x + y)}\)[/tex] as a sum of two separate fractions:

[tex]\[ \frac{3x}{6(x + y)} - \frac{4}{6(x + y)} = \frac{x}{2(x + y)} - \frac{2}{3(x + y)} \][/tex]

Observing the numerator [tex]\(3x - 4\)[/tex], we can also convert it into:

[tex]\[ \frac{3x - 4}{6(x + y)} = \frac{1}{6(x + y)}(3x - 4) \][/tex]

To further simplify, we can distribute the terms to split the fraction:

[tex]\[ \frac{3x}{6(x + y)} - \frac{4}{6(x + y)} = \left(\frac{x}{2}\right) \cdot \left( \frac{1}{(x + y)} \right) - \left(\frac{2}{3}\right) \cdot \left( \frac{1}{(x + y)} \right) \][/tex]

Combine into:

[tex]\[ \frac{\frac{x}{2} - \frac{2}{3}}{(x + y)} \][/tex]

Simplifying the fractions inside:

[tex]\[ = \frac{x/2 - 2/3}{x + y} \][/tex]

Thus, the expression simplifies to:

[tex]\[ \boxed{\frac{x/2 - 2/3}{x + y}} \][/tex]