No. The 6 is over the 4. So no matter what else is in the fraction,
the 6 is divided by the 4. In other words, that part of the fraction ...
6/4 ... simplifies to 3/2 .
Settle down and let's look at that problem:
You said: 6 p⁴ / 4 p³
I hope you see that this ugly complicated fraction can be written as
the product of two separate fractions. It's exactly the same thing as
6/4 times p⁴/p³ .
Simplify the first one: 6/4 = 3/2
Simplify the second one: p⁴/p³ = p
And the original fraction becomes 6p⁴/4p³ = 3/2 p .
=====================================
Now, if you'll stay with me, I want to take you back to the original
problem, and do it a slightly different way:
Even though the original fraction has both numbers and a variable
in it, the question is actually something that you've done hundreds
of times before ... simplify the fraction !
How do you simplify a fraction ? (Review) Find a common factor of
the top and bottom, then divide top and bottom by the common factor.
OK. We have 6p⁴ and 4p³ .
The factors of 6p⁴ are: 1, 2, 3, 6, p, p², p³, and p⁴ .
The factors of 4p³ are: 1, 2, 4, p, p², and p³ .
What do we have for common factors ? I see ' 2 ' and ' p³ ' .
Divide the top by 2p³ : 6p⁴ / 2p³ = 3p
Divide the bottom by 2p³ : 4p³ / 2p³ = 2
Now, after simplifying, the fraction is (3p/2) or (3/2 p) .
