Kathy, what about the following two counterarguments:
* Sometimes we want to know if two rational expressions (arithmetic and/or
algebra) are the same. Simplifying is a good way to check.
* In math as in life, we should try to express ourselves as simply and as
clearly as possible. Especially in math, which gets complicated (not that
life doesn't!). In particular, give your answers in simplest form.
What do you think?
Geoffrey
Geoffrey Akst
Mathematics Department
Manhattan Community College
199 Chambers Street
NY, NY 10007
(v) 212/346-8530, -8531, -8532
(f) 212/346-8550
(e) akst@idt.net
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