Precalculus (6th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 013421742X
ISBN 13: 978-0-13421-742-0

Chapter R - Review of Basic Concepts - Chapter R Test Prep - Review Exercises - Page 84: 125

Answer

$\huge\color{blue}{\frac{7b}{8b + 7a}}$

Work Step by Step

$\large(\frac{8}{7} + \frac{a}{b})^{-1} \ne \frac{7}{8} + \frac{b}{a}$ We need to work the inside of the parentheses first. $\large (\frac{8}{7} + \frac{a}{b})$$^{-1}$ Lets find the lowest common denominator so we can add the fractions. $\large ((\frac{8}{\color{blue}{7}})(\frac{\color{green}{b}}{\color{green}{b}}) + (\frac{a}{\color{green}{b}})(\frac{\color{blue}{7}}{\color{blue}{7}}))$$^{-1}$ $\large (\frac{8b}{7b} + \frac{7a}{7b})$$^{-1}$ $\large (\frac{8b + 7a}{7b})$$^{-1}$ Now we can get rid of the $-1$ exponent by flipping the fraction. $\large (\frac{8b + 7a}{7b})$$^{-1} \large= \frac{7b}{8b + 7a}$ The answer is: $\huge\color{blue}{\frac{7b}{8b + 7a}}$
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