jfls43 said:
I'm terrible with math...
(this is is really hard)
The very most help I could give you is to insist that you NEVER talk like this, think like this, or act like this again. If you continue in this way, you WILL fail. Simply stop it. If someone else is saying it, ask them to stop immediately.
There are rules. Learn them and follow them. You have demonstrated already an ability to think. That is what is most required.
1. "If the signs are changed"?? Think about it: If you have 1/2, and you change it to (-1)/(-2) = 1/2, what has been accomplished? (Unfortunately, in this case the question is "bad". I'll tell you why if you ask.)
2. Your task is to find common factors, and then cancel. Nothing else. Factor the numerator and the denominator separately; then look around for common factors.
4ax + 8bx = 4(ax + 2bx) = 4x(a + 2b) -- Be sure you see how to do this.
8a^2m - 32b^2m = 8(a^2m - 4b^2m) = 8m(a^2 - 4b^2) = 8m(a +2b)(a - 2b) -- Be sure you see every step of this. The difference of squares (the last step) is very important.
The Numerator has factors 8, m, a + 2b, and a - 2b
The Denominator has factprs 4, x, and a + 2b
Find the ones in common and get them out. Then you will be done.
3. You already know how to add fractions. Get a common denominator and add up the numerators.
The first fraction has factors 3 and a.
The second fraction has factors 4 and b.
The third fraction has factors a and b.
The least common denominator (LCD) is that denominator which meets the requirements of all three.
The first denominator tells us the LCD needs 3 and a. Great; so far, we have 3a.
The second says the LCD needs 4 and b. Too bad; at this point, we have none of that. So throw it all in. So far, we have 3*a*4*b.
The third says the LCD needs a and b. We already have those, so we're done.
You do the rest.