Cancelling out

Cancelling out is a mathematical process used for removing subexpressions from a mathematical expression, when this removal does not change the meaning or the value of the expression because the subexpressions have equal and opposing effects. For example, a fraction is put in lowest terms by cancelling out the common factors of the numerator and the denominator. As another example, if a×b=a×c, then the multiplicative term a can be canceled out if a≠0, resulting in the equivalent expression b=c; this is equivalent to dividing through by a.

This article is about cancellation of terms in an equation or in elementary algebra. For the extension of 'invertibility' in abstract algebra, see cancellation property.
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