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# 1.4: Algebra Expressions with Fraction Bars

Difficulty Level: Basic Created by: CK-12
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Practice Algebra Expressions with Fraction Bars
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What if you knew that the volume of a sphere could be represented by the formula V=4πr33\begin{align*}V=\frac{4 \pi r^3}{3}\end{align*}, where r\begin{align*}r\end{align*} is the radius, and that the radius of a sphere is 4 feet? How would the fraction bar in the formula affect the way that you found the sphere's volume? Which operation do you think the fraction bar represents? After completing this Concept, you'll be able to correctly interpret the fraction bar when finding the sphere's volume.

### Guidance

Fraction bars count as grouping symbols for PEMDAS, and should be treated as a set of parentheses. All numerators and all denominators can be treated as if they have invisible parentheses. When real parentheses are also present, remember that the innermost grouping symbols should be evaluated first. If, for example, parentheses appear in a numerator, they would take precedence over the fraction bar. If the parentheses appear outside of the fraction, then the fraction bar takes precedence.

#### Example A

Use the order of operations to simplify the following expression:

z+341\begin{align*}\frac{z + 3}{4} - 1\end{align*} when z=2\begin{align*}z = 2\end{align*}

Solution: Begin by substituting the appropriate value for the variable:

(2+3)41=541\begin{align*}\frac{(2+3)}{4} -1 = \frac{5}{4} -1\end{align*}.

Rewriting 1 as a fraction, the expression becomes:

5444=14\begin{align*}\frac{5}{4} - \frac{4}{4} = \frac{1}{4}\end{align*}

#### Example B

Use the order of operations to simplify the following expression:

(a+2b+41)+b\begin{align*}\left (\frac{a+2}{b+4} - 1 \right ) + b\end{align*} when a=3\begin{align*}a = 3\end{align*} and b=1\begin{align*}b = 1\end{align*}

Solution: Begin by substituting the appropriate value for the variable:

(3+2)(1+4)=55=1\begin{align*}\frac{(3+2)}{(1+4)} = \frac{5}{5} = 1\end{align*}

(11)+b\begin{align*}(1 - 1) + b\end{align*} Substituting 1 for b, the expression becomes 0+1=1\begin{align*} 0 + 1 = 1\end{align*}

#### Example C

Use the order of operations to simplify the following expression:

2×(w+(x2z)(y+2)21)\begin{align*}2 \times \left ( \frac{w + (x - 2z)}{(y + 2)^2} - 1 \right )\end{align*} when w=11, x=3, y=1\begin{align*}w = 11, \ x = 3, \ y = 1\end{align*} and z=2\begin{align*}z = -2\end{align*}

Solution: Begin by substituting the appropriate values for the variables:

2([11+(32(2))][(1+2)2)]1)=2((11+7)321)=2(1891)\begin{align*}2 \left ( \frac{[11+(3-2(-2))]}{[(1+2)^2)]} - 1 \right ) = 2 \left ( \frac{(11+7)}{3^2} -1 \right ) = 2 \left (\frac{18}{9} - 1 \right )\end{align*}

Continue simplifying:

2(18999)=2(99)=2(1)=2\begin{align*}2\left ( \frac{18}{9} - \frac{9}{9} \right ) = 2 \left ( \frac{9}{9} \right ) = 2(1)= 2\end{align*}

### Guided Practice

Use the order of operations to evaluate the following expression when x=6\begin{align*}x = 6\end{align*} and y=2\begin{align*}y = 2\end{align*}:

(x1y1)2+2xy2\begin{align*}\left (\frac{x-1}{y-1} \right )^2 + \frac{2x}{y^2}\end{align*}

Solution:

Begin by substituting in 6 for x\begin{align*}x\end{align*} and 1 for y\begin{align*}y\end{align*}.

(6121)2+2(6)22\begin{align*}\left (\frac{6-1}{2-1} \right )^2 + \frac{2(6)}{2^2}\end{align*}

First, we work with what is inside the parentheses. There, we have a fraction so we have to simplify the fraction first, simplifying the numerator and then the denominator before dividing. We can simply the other fraction at the same time.

(51)2+124\begin{align*}\left (\frac{5}{1} \right )^2 + \frac{12}{4}\end{align*}

Next we simplify the fractions, and finish with exponents and then addition:

(5)2+3=25+3=28.\begin{align*} (5 )^2 + 3=25+3=28.\end{align*}

### Practice

Sample explanations for some of the practice exercises below are available by viewing the following video. Note that there is not always a match between the number of the practice exercise in the video and the number of the practice exercise listed in the following exercise set. However, the practice exercise is the same in both. CK-12 Basic Algebra: Order of Operations (14:23)

Use the order of operations to simplify the following expressions.

1. 2(3+(21))4(6+2)(35)\begin{align*}\frac{2 \cdot (3 + (2 - 1))}{4 - (6 + 2)} - (3 - 5)\end{align*}
2. (2+3)2383(104)74\begin{align*}\frac{(2+3)^2}{3-8} - \frac{3\cdot(10-4)}{7-4}\end{align*}

Evaluate the following expressions involving variables.

1. jkj+k\begin{align*}\frac{jk}{j + k}\end{align*} when j=6\begin{align*}j = 6\end{align*} and k=12\begin{align*}k = 12\end{align*}.
2. 4x9x23x+1\begin{align*}\frac{4x}{9x^2 - 3x + 1}\end{align*} when x=2\begin{align*}x = 2\end{align*}
3. z2x+y+x2xy\begin{align*}\frac{z^2}{x + y} + \frac{x^2}{x - y}\end{align*} when x=1, y=2\begin{align*}x = 1, \ y = -2\end{align*}, and \begin{align*}z = 4\end{align*}.
4. \begin{align*}\frac{4xyz}{y^2 - x^2}\end{align*} when \begin{align*}x = 3, \ y = 2\end{align*}, and \begin{align*}z = 5\end{align*}
5. \begin{align*}\frac{x^2 - z^2}{xz - 2x(z - x)}\end{align*} when \begin{align*}x = -1\end{align*} and \begin{align*}z = 3\end{align*}

The formula to find the volume of a square pyramid is \begin{align*}V=\frac{s^2 (h)}{3}\end{align*}. Evaluate the volume for the given values.

1. \begin{align*}s=4\ inches,h=18\ inches\end{align*}
2. \begin{align*}s=10\ feet,h=50\ feet\end{align*}
3. \begin{align*}h=7\ meters,s=12\ meters\end{align*}
4. \begin{align*}h=27\ feet,s=13\ feet\end{align*}
5. \begin{align*}s=16\ cm,h=90\ cm\end{align*}

### Vocabulary Language: English Spanish

Fraction Bar

Fraction Bar

A fraction bar is a line used to divide the numerator and the denominator of a fraction. The fraction bar means division.
fraction

fraction

A fraction is a part of a whole. A fraction is written mathematically as one value on top of another, separated by a fraction bar. It is also called a rational number.
Order of Operations

Order of Operations

The order of operations specifies the order in which to perform each of multiple operations in an expression or equation. The order of operations is: P - parentheses, E - exponents, M/D - multiplication and division in order from left to right, A/S - addition and subtraction in order from left to right.
Parentheses

Parentheses

Parentheses "(" and ")" are used in algebraic expressions as grouping symbols.
PEMDAS

PEMDAS

PEMDAS (Please Excuse My Daring Aunt Sally) is a mnemonic device used to help remember the order of operations: Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication/Division, Addition/Subtraction.
Volume

Volume

Volume is the amount of space inside the bounds of a three-dimensional object.

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Description
Difficulty Level:
Basic
Tags:
Subjects:

8 , 9
Date Created:
Feb 24, 2012