Fraction cancellation with lower degree in numerator

51 Views Asked by At

I am having trouble understanding why,

$$\frac {xy}{xy^2-x^2y}=\frac{1}{y-x}$$

Why is that the answer and not,

$$\frac{xy}{xy^2-x^2y}=\frac{1}{y^2-x^2}$$

That would have been my answer. Is there something I am missing? I thought you leave the higher degree denominator alone with the numerator if the numerator is of a lower degree than the denominator.

1

There are 1 best solutions below

8
On BEST ANSWER

Your fraction can be written as $$\frac{xy}{xy(y-x)}$$ for $$xy\neq 0$$