Posted by Soroban on September 25, 2002 at 01:43:46:
In Reply to: Linear Equation - Going Crazy 1 problem posted by Andrea Lungu on September 23, 2002 at 23:42:25:
: The problem I have is this:
: x _ 4-x
: _______ ________
: 2x - 4 x^2 - 2x
: Somebody please help me out im going insane
Intresting! The layout was preserved in the "Comments" box.
Even with the poorly-spaced expression in the original post, I guessed
what the problem was supposed to look like.
To add or subtract fractions, you need a common denominator.
You fractions are: x/2(x-2) and (4-x)/x(x-2); the LCD is 2x(x-2).
To make the two denominators equal to the LCD, we must do some work:
multiply the first fraction by x/x, the second by 2x2, and get:
x^2/2x(x-2) - 2(4-x)/2x(x-2)
The denominators are equal, so we simplify the numerator: x^2 - 8 + 2x
and put it over the LCD: (x^2 + 2x - 8)/2x(x - 2)
Ha! The numerator factors, so the fraction is: (x+4)(x-2)/2x(x-2)
The (x-2)s cancel, leaving (x+4)/2x