KhanAcademy nested fractions problem So I was given a problem at KA today. They offer you a choice

grinder3yve0

grinder3yve0

Answered question

2022-06-01

KhanAcademy nested fractions problem
So I was given a problem at KA today. They offer you a choice among possible simplified versions of this expression:
1 + x y x y
My solution was:
( 1 + x y ) ÷ x y = ( 1 + x y ) y x = y x + = y x
And it was one of the variants, but I was told this was wrong. They solve this with a different, perfectly reasonable strategy (they get y + x x ), but I still don't get what is wrong with my approach.

Answer & Explanation

Ramiro Frye

Ramiro Frye

Beginner2022-06-02Added 5 answers

When you cancel out x y with y x , it doesn't give you 0, it gives you 1.
For instance, 3 4 4 3 = 1
Ada Harper

Ada Harper

Beginner2022-06-03Added 2 answers

Your solution is almost correct note that
1 + x y x y = y x ( 1 + x y ) = y x + 1
The cancelling out does not make the fraction 0!

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