Multiply
(a+1/2)(a+1/4)
1.25a? or 1 1/4a ?
neither,
(a+1/2)(a+1/4)
= a^2 + (1/4)a + (1/2)a + 1/8
= a^2 + (3/4)a + 1/8
To simplify = (a^2)7/8?
No, you cannot add "unlike" terms.
(is 4 apples plus 3 oranges equal to 7 appleoranges?)
My last line is the final answer.
Thank you. I hope you are compensated well to put up with English majoring who don't enjoy math :)
LOL
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To multiply the expressions (a+1/2)(a+1/4), you can use the distributive property of multiplication to multiply each term in the first expression by each term in the second expression.
First, multiply the first term of the first expression (a) by both terms in the second expression (a and 1/4):
a * a = a^2
a * 1/4 = 1/4a
Next, multiply the second term of the first expression (1/2) by both terms in the second expression (a and 1/4):
1/2 * a = 1/2a
1/2 * 1/4 = 1/8
Now, add up all the results:
a^2 + 1/4a + 1/2a + 1/8
Simplify the terms with the same variable:
a^2 + (1/4a + 1/2a) + 1/8
= a^2 + 3/4a + 1/8
So, the simplified expression is a^2 + 3/4a + 1/8.
There is no direct way to transform it into 1.25a or 1 1/4a because the expression contains both variables (a) and fractions (3/4 and 1/8).