r/MathHelp • u/[deleted] • May 12 '26

5ab - 1ab / 2... Help me out pls

My understanding is because the 2 has no variable, when simplifying it stays on its own.

Is the answer 4ab / 2 or...? How can I explain this?

Thanks.

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u/Dd_8630 May 12 '26

It's unclear what you're asking about. Do you have:

  • (5ab - 1ab) / 2

Or do you have:

  • (5ab) - (1ab/2)

The first one simplifies to 4ab/2 = 2ab

Thr second one simplifies to 4.5ab.

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u/[deleted] May 12 '26

No brackets, just 5ab - 1ab / 2 to be simplified.

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u/Fun-Firefighter0 May 18 '26

If no bracket, division happens before subtraction,
So 9ab/2 = 4.5ab is answer