Solve for the Denominator: Finding ? in 27ab/? = 3ab

Question

Complete the corresponding expression for the denominator

27ab?=3ab \frac{27ab}{\text{?}}=3ab

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

Upon examining the problem, proceed to write the expression on the right side as a fraction (using the fact that dividing a number by 1 does not change its value):

27ab?=3ab27ab?=3ab1 \frac{27ab}{\text{?}}=3ab\\ \downarrow\\ \frac{27ab}{\text{?}}=\frac{3ab}{1}

Remember the fraction reduction operation,

Note that both in the numerator of the expression on the right side and in the numerator of the expression on the left side the expression ab ab is present. Therefore in the expression we are looking for there are no variables (since we are not interested in reducing them from the expression in the numerator on the left side),

Next, determine which number was chosen to be in the denominator of the expression on the left side in order that its reduction with the number 27 yields the number 3. The answer to this - the number 9,

Due to the fact that:

27=93 27=9\cdot 3

Let's verify that this choice indeed gives us the expression on the right side:

27ab?=3ab12̸7ab=?3ab13ab1=!3ab1 \frac{27ab}{\text{?}}=\frac{3ab}{1} \\ \downarrow\\ \frac{\not{27}ab}{\textcolor{red}{\not{9}}}\stackrel{?}{= }\frac{3ab}{1} \\ \downarrow\\ \boxed{\frac{3ab}{1}\stackrel{!}{= }\frac{3ab}{1} }

Therefore this choice is indeed correct.

In other words - the correct answer is answer A.

Answer

9 9