Expanding and Simplifying with Fractions

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Hannah1999

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Hi! I am awfully rusty with my algebra so i would appreciate some assistance!

The question is: Expand and simplify the following expression

1/5 (x+3) + x/3

I have no idea where to start and am feeling very lost (math is not my strong point)!
 
Hi. Are you in a math course?

To "expand" means multiply out this part:

1/5 (x+3)

You need to recall the Distributive Property for that.

A (B + C) = A∙B + A∙C

Remember how that pattern goes?
 
Hannah1999 said:
Hi! I am awfully rusty with my algebra so i would appreciate some assistance!

The question is: Expand and simplify the following expression

1/5 (x+3) + x/3

I have no idea where to start and am feeling very lost (math is not my strong point)!
Click to expand...

don't let the symbols confuse you.
with an expression such as 1/5(x+3) each term inside the paranthesis is multiplied by 1/5.

This yields x/5 + 3/5
the whole expression is then x/5+3/5+x/3
then you can combine like terms, adding x/5 to x/3.
the final answer is 8x/15 + 3/5.

note: 1/5(x+3) could be confusing. I am assuming you mean (1/5 )(x+3),
and not 1/(5(x+3)).
 
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