CliffsNotes To Go Sweepstakes -- Enter Now to Win an iPod touch Loaded with Cliffs Study Apps

Which would you consider the most influential woman of the last 100 years?

Anne Frank
Mother Teresa
Oprah Winfrey
Princess Diana
Rosa Parks

View Results

Complex Fractions

If the numerator or denominator or both contain fractions, then the expression is called a complex fraction. The fraction bar indicates division. To simplify a complex fraction:

  1. Simplify both numerator and denominator expressions into single fraction expressions.

  2. Divide the numerator by the denominator and simplify if possible.

Example 1: Simplify




.

Simplify numerator and denominator.




is already a single fraction expression.



Divide numerator by denominator and simplify.




Therefore,




Example 2: Simplify .

Simplify numerator and denominator.




Divide numerator by denominator and simplify.




Therefore,




Cite this article