Simplify 4b/2b. Divide both terms by 2 for 2b/b. The fraction b/b will simplify to 1, so 2 x 1 = 2, which is the simplified answer.
Examine the expression 15b/3. Since fractions are another form of division problem, you can reduce the solution by dividing. Divide the numerator by the denominator: (15 x b) ÷ 5 = 3b, which is the simplified answer.
Examine the expression 60f/48h. Sixty and 48 are both multiples of 12. Divide both terms by 12 for 5f/4h.
Simplify x^4/x^2. Exponent division rules tell you to subtract the exponents. Subtract 4 -- 2 = 2, so x^4/x^2 simplifies to x^2.
Examine the expression: 2t/3 x 12/t. Multiply straight across for 24t/3t, which simplifies to 8t.
Simplify x^2/x + y^3/y^2. Follow the rules of exponents for the simplified solution of x + y.
Examine the expression (r^2 -- 9)/(4r^2 + 16r + 12) x (r + 1)/(r + 4). This is a very complex fraction problem since the first fraction has a binomial as the numerator and a trinomial as the denominator and the second fraction has a binomial in both the numerator and denominator.
Factor out the numerator: r^2 -- 9 = (r + 3)(r -- 3). This will be the numerator. Factor out the denominator: 4r^2 + 16r + 12 = 4(r^2 + 4r + 3), which factors further to 4(r + 3)(r + 1). This is the denominator.
Write the new fraction problem: (r + 3)(r -- 3)/4(r + 3)(r + 1) x (r + 1)/(r + 4.) Simplify the expression to read as one fraction, written as a product of the terms: (r + 3)(r -- 3)(r + 1) over 4(r + 3)(r + 1)(r + 4).
Notice that the numerator and denominator have two common terms, (r + 3) and (r + 1). Since (r + 3) ÷ (r + 3) and (r + 1) ÷ (r + 1) both equal 1, the terms will cancel out. Cross them out and write 1 in their places. Your problem should read: (1)(r -- 3)(1) over 4(r + 4).
Multiply across for the simplified solution (r -- 3) over 4(r + 4)