The distributive property for division helps in solving expressions like \({b + c \over a}\). It specifies that the result of dividing a fraction with multiple terms in the numerator and one term in the denominator can be obtained by dividing each term individually and then totaling the results: \({b + c \over a} = {b \over a} + {c \over a}\). For example, \({a^3 + 6a^2 \over a^2} = {a^3 \over a^2} + {6a^2 \over a^2} = a + 6\).

A rational number (or fraction) is represented as a ratio between two integers, a and b, and has the form \({a \over b}\) where a is the numerator and b is the denominator. An improper fraction (\({5 \over 3} \)) has a numerator with a greater absolute value than the denominator and can be converted into a mixed number (\(1 {2 \over 3} \)) which has a whole number part and a fractional part.

To take the square root of a fraction, break the fraction into two separate roots then calculate the square root of the numerator and denominator separately:

\( \sqrt{\frac{4}{36}} \)
\( \frac{\sqrt{4}}{\sqrt{36}} \)
\( \frac{\sqrt{2^2}}{\sqrt{6^2}} \)
\(\frac{1}{3}\)

The greatest common factor (GCF) is the greatest factor that divides two integers.

The factors of a number are all positive integers that divide evenly into the number. The factors of 72 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 72.