Solve for Missing Denominator in (6x³-3x²)/(?) = 3x²

Question

Complete the corresponding expression for the denominator

6x33x2?=3x21 \frac{6x^3-3x^2}{?}=\frac{3x^2}{1}

Video Solution

Solution Steps

00:00 Complete the appropriate denominator
00:03 We want to isolate the denominator, so we'll multiply by the denominator
00:13 Let's isolate the denominator
00:28 Let's break down 6 into factors 3 and 2
00:31 Let's break down the power of 3 into a squared factor times the factor
00:39 Let's mark the common factors
00:45 Let's factor out the common terms from the parentheses
00:55 Let's reduce what we can
01:04 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-Step Solution

Examine the following problem:

6x33x2?=3x2 \frac{6x^3-3x^2}{?}=3x^2

Note that in the numerator of the fraction on the left side there is an expression that can be factored using factoring out a common factor. We will therefore factor out the largest common factor possible (meaning that the expression in parentheses cannot be further factored by taking out a common factor):

6x33x2?=3x23x2(2x1)?=3x2 \frac{6x^3-3x^2}{?}=3x^2 \\ \downarrow\\ \frac{3x^2(2x-1)}{?}=3x^2 \\ In factoring, we used of course the law of exponents:

am+n=aman \bm{a^{m+n}=a^m\cdot a^n}

Proceed to express the expression on the right side as a fraction ( by using the fact that dividing a number by 1 does not change its value):

3x2(2x1)?=3x23x2(2x1)?=3x21 \frac{3x^2(2x-1)}{?}=3x^2 \\ \downarrow\\ \frac{3x^2(2x-1)}{?}=\frac{3x^2}{1}

Continue solving the problem and remember the fraction reduction operation. Note that in both the numerator on the right side and on the left side there is the expression:3x2 3x^2 , hence we don't want to reduce from the numerator on the left side. However, the expression:

2x1 2x-1 ,

is not found in the numerator on the right side (which is the fraction after reduction) Therefore we can conclude that this expression needs to be reduced from the numerator on the left side, so the missing expression must be none other than:

2x1 2x-1

Let's verify that with this choice we obtain the expression on the right side: (reduction sign)

3x2(2x1)?=3x23x2(2x1)2x1=?3x213x21=!3x21 \frac{3x^2(2x-1)}{?}=3x^2 \\ \downarrow\\ \frac{3x^2(2x-1)}{\textcolor{red}{2x-1}}\stackrel{?}{= }\frac{3x^2}{1} \\ \downarrow\\ \boxed{\frac{3x^2}{1} \stackrel{!}{= }\frac{3x^2}{1} }

Therefore choosing the expression:

2x1 2x-1

is indeed correct.

Which means that the correct answer is answer B.

Answer

2x1 2x-1