Write an equivalent expression for (1/y) - (1/4) using positive exponents.

Mathematics · Middle School · Thu Feb 04 2021

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To write an equivalent expression for (1/y) - (1/4) using positive exponents, we need to combine the two fractions. First, we find a common denominator, which in this case is simply the product of the two denominators, y and 4. The common denominator will be 4y.

Now, we rewrite each fraction with the common denominator:

(1/y) becomes (4/4y) because we multiply the top and the bottom by 4.

(1/4) becomes (y/4y) because we multiply the top and the bottom by y.

Now that they have the same denominator, we can subtract:

(4/4y) - (y/4y) = (4 - y)/4y

The resulting expression, (4 - y)/4y, has positive exponents and is the equivalent expression for (1/y) - (1/4).