How do you simplify #(6a+18)/(9a+27)#?

1 Answer
Feb 16, 2017

Se the entire simplification process below:

Explanation:

First, factor the numerator and denominator as:

#(6a + 18)/(9a + 27) = (6(a + 3))/(9(a + 3)) = ((3 xx 2)(a + 3))/((3 xx 3)(a + 3))#

We can now cancel common terms in the numerator and denominator:

#((color(red)(cancel(color(black)(3))) xx 2)color(blue)(cancel(color(black)((a + 3)))))/((color(red)(cancel(color(black)(3))) xx 3)color(blue)(cancel(color(black)((a + 3))))) = 2/3#

However, because #9a + 27# cannot equal #0# the complete answer is:

#2/3# where #a != -3#