Remember, only like terms can be combined. Write each term as an equivalent fraction with a in the numerator and 4 in the denominator.
3a/2
Practice makes perfect
The first step in simplifying this expression is to identify which, if any, terms can be combined. Remember, only like terms — constant terms or terms with the same variable — can be combined.
a - a/4 + 3/4 a
In this case, we have three a-terms, so to simplify the expression we will combine like terms. To simplify the given expression, we have to rewrite the terms as fractions with the same denominator. Notice that the second term, a4, is already in the form we need.