More help. (What a break I'm having!) Simple division.

[Kurt_]

I need a bit of refreshing. This involves multiplying by (1/h).

here's the problem, as far as I can remember: (x is some mess of variables and numbers, and h is a variable representing some thing that involves finding the slope of a tangent.

You start with a division statement in your numerator.

( x ) / ( 2+h ) / h

And then you multiply the denominator in the numerator by (1/h) to get

( x ) / ( 2+h )( 1 / h ) / h = (x) / (h(2+h))

My questions to you:

Why can you add 1/h into the equation?
Why is ( 2+h )(1 / h) / (h) = ( 2+h )(h)?

If that is the case, then why is it that ( x ) / ( 2+h ) / h =(x) / (h(2+h)). Why can you change the division (of division) to a multiplication?

I know there's a really simple answer to this, and it will help me lots. And don't make fun of me because the teacher takes for granted that I remember this grade 3 stuff! (It's actually a student teacher, teaching us the hardest course in our highschool. [sarcasm] Fun stuff, I'm learning lots. [/sarcasm]).

[peedekk]

Well..

you first have:

( (x) / (2+h) ) / h

'x' divided by '2 + h', all divided by 'h'

you can split that up into:

(x) / (2+h) * 1 / h

'x' divided by '2 + h', multiplied by, '1' divided by 'h'

then multiply the two fractions gives:

(x) / (2+h)*h


Its easier to see written on paper.

Did you understand?

[Kurt_]

That's what I thought. Thanks.

[peedekk]

Because I spent so much time working on this picture (instead of doing my normal work (if anyone asks i was on a break)) here is a picture i made using paint.



Pretty good picture for just under 15mins work..