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Finite Math Examples
Step 1
Step 1.1
Finding the LCD of a list of values is the same as finding the LCM of the denominators of those values.
Step 1.2
Since contains both numbers and variables, there are four steps to find the LCM. Find LCM for the numeric, variable, and compound variable parts. Then, multiply them all together.
Steps to find the LCM for are:
1. Find the LCM for the numeric part .
2. Find the LCM for the variable part .
3. Find the LCM for the compound variable part .
4. Multiply each LCM together.
Step 1.3
The LCM is the smallest positive number that all of the numbers divide into evenly.
1. List the prime factors of each number.
2. Multiply each factor the greatest number of times it occurs in either number.
Step 1.4
The number is not a prime number because it only has one positive factor, which is itself.
Not prime
Step 1.5
Since has no factors besides and .
is a prime number
Step 1.6
The number is not a prime number because it only has one positive factor, which is itself.
Not prime
Step 1.7
The LCM of is the result of multiplying all prime factors the greatest number of times they occur in either number.
Step 1.8
The factor for is itself.
occurs time.
Step 1.9
The LCM of is the result of multiplying all prime factors the greatest number of times they occur in either term.
Step 1.10
The factor for is itself.
occurs time.
Step 1.11
The LCM of is the result of multiplying all factors the greatest number of times they occur in either term.
Step 1.12
The Least Common Multiple of some numbers is the smallest number that the numbers are factors of.
Step 2
Step 2.1
Multiply each term in by .
Step 2.2
Simplify the left side.
Step 2.2.1
Rewrite using the commutative property of multiplication.
Step 2.2.2
Multiply .
Step 2.2.2.1
Combine and .
Step 2.2.2.2
Multiply by .
Step 2.2.3
Cancel the common factor of .
Step 2.2.3.1
Cancel the common factor.
Step 2.2.3.2
Rewrite the expression.
Step 2.2.4
Apply the distributive property.
Step 2.2.5
Multiply by .
Step 2.3
Simplify the right side.
Step 2.3.1
Simplify each term.
Step 2.3.1.1
Cancel the common factor of .
Step 2.3.1.1.1
Factor out of .
Step 2.3.1.1.2
Cancel the common factor.
Step 2.3.1.1.3
Rewrite the expression.
Step 2.3.1.2
Apply the distributive property.
Step 2.3.1.3
Multiply by .
Step 2.3.1.4
Move to the left of .
Step 2.3.1.5
Apply the distributive property.
Step 2.3.1.6
Multiply by .
Step 2.3.1.7
Rewrite using the commutative property of multiplication.
Step 2.3.1.8
Combine and .
Step 2.3.1.9
Cancel the common factor of .
Step 2.3.1.9.1
Factor out of .
Step 2.3.1.9.2
Cancel the common factor.
Step 2.3.1.9.3
Rewrite the expression.
Step 2.3.2
Add and .
Step 3
Step 3.1
Since is on the right side of the equation, switch the sides so it is on the left side of the equation.
Step 3.2
Move all terms containing to the left side of the equation.
Step 3.2.1
Subtract from both sides of the equation.
Step 3.2.2
Subtract from .
Step 3.3
Subtract from both sides of the equation.
Step 3.4
Factor the left side of the equation.
Step 3.4.1
Factor out of .
Step 3.4.1.1
Factor out of .
Step 3.4.1.2
Factor out of .
Step 3.4.1.3
Factor out of .
Step 3.4.1.4
Factor out of .
Step 3.4.1.5
Factor out of .
Step 3.4.2
Factor.
Step 3.4.2.1
Factor by grouping.
Step 3.4.2.1.1
For a polynomial of the form , rewrite the middle term as a sum of two terms whose product is and whose sum is .
Step 3.4.2.1.1.1
Factor out of .
Step 3.4.2.1.1.2
Rewrite as plus
Step 3.4.2.1.1.3
Apply the distributive property.
Step 3.4.2.1.2
Factor out the greatest common factor from each group.
Step 3.4.2.1.2.1
Group the first two terms and the last two terms.
Step 3.4.2.1.2.2
Factor out the greatest common factor (GCF) from each group.
Step 3.4.2.1.3
Factor the polynomial by factoring out the greatest common factor, .
Step 3.4.2.2
Remove unnecessary parentheses.
Step 3.5
If any individual factor on the left side of the equation is equal to , the entire expression will be equal to .
Step 3.6
Set equal to and solve for .
Step 3.6.1
Set equal to .
Step 3.6.2
Add to both sides of the equation.
Step 3.7
Set equal to and solve for .
Step 3.7.1
Set equal to .
Step 3.7.2
Solve for .
Step 3.7.2.1
Subtract from both sides of the equation.
Step 3.7.2.2
Divide each term in by and simplify.
Step 3.7.2.2.1
Divide each term in by .
Step 3.7.2.2.2
Simplify the left side.
Step 3.7.2.2.2.1
Cancel the common factor of .
Step 3.7.2.2.2.1.1
Cancel the common factor.
Step 3.7.2.2.2.1.2
Divide by .
Step 3.7.2.2.3
Simplify the right side.
Step 3.7.2.2.3.1
Move the negative in front of the fraction.
Step 3.8
The final solution is all the values that make true.
Step 4
The result can be shown in multiple forms.
Exact Form:
Decimal Form:
Mixed Number Form: