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January 7th, 2014, 05:16 PM   #1
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complex fractions

Hi I am having trouble solving and understanding this complex fraction (also refer to image):

2/2/3 - 2/3/2

The answer is 8/3 but I am unsure as to how I would arrive at this answer. I have been refering to the properties of fractions but I think I am missing something.

I have been working on this for an hour and I think it is time to seek advice.

Thanks
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 January 7th, 2014, 05:51 PM #2 Senior Member     Joined: Jul 2010 From: St. Augustine, FL., U.S.A.'s oldest city Posts: 12,184 Thanks: 481 Math Focus: Calculus/ODEs Re: complex fractions I moved this topic since it is not calculus. $\frac{2}{\frac{2}{3}}=\frac{1}{\frac{1}{3}}=3$ $\frac{\frac{2}{3}}{2}=\frac{1}{3}$ $3-\frac{1}{3}=\frac{9-1}{3}=\frac{8}{3}$
January 8th, 2014, 07:26 AM   #3
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From: Lexington, MA

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Re: complex fractions

Hello, mdocka1!

Quote:
 $\text{Simplify: }\;\frac{\,2\,}{\frac{2}{3}} \,-\,\frac{\,\frac{2}{3}\,}{2}$

This is arithmetic . . .
Do you remember how to divide fractions?

$\text{The first term is: }\;2 \,\div\,\frac{2}{3} \;=\;2\,\times\,\frac{3}{2} \;=\;3$

$\text{The second term is: }\;\frac{2}{3}\,\div\,2 \;=\;\frac{2}{3}\,\times\,\frac{1}{2} \;=\;\frac{1}{3}$

$\text{The answer is: }\;3\,-\,\frac{1}{3} \;=\;\frac{9}{3}\,-\,\frac{1}{3}\;=\;\frac{8}{3}$

 January 8th, 2014, 06:29 PM #4 Member   Joined: Jan 2014 Posts: 42 Thanks: 0 Re: complex fractions Hi Thank you both for your help. So simple.. I havent studied math in a long while. Only general math year 10 and 11(Austrailian Edu) almost 10 years ago. It was the fraction within the fraction that confused me. but as you have shown you just have to break down the question. Thanks again

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