SOLUTION: Well I thought I understood polynomials until I got to the rational expressions aspect of them. For example how do I solve:
ab - a + b - 1 / ab + a + b + 1
I believe the first
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Question 244618: Well I thought I understood polynomials until I got to the rational expressions aspect of them. For example how do I solve:
ab - a + b - 1 / ab + a + b + 1
I believe the first step is to factor out ab, but I'm lost after that. The answer given in back of book is:
b - 1 / b + 1
But can't the b's be factored out as well since they are equal?
Thank you in advance.
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Start with the given expression.
Factor an 'a' out of the terms in the numerator.
Factor an 'a' out of the terms in the denominator.
Factor out the GCF in the numerator. Factor out the GCF in the denominator.
Highlight the common terms.
Cancel out the common terms.
Simplify.
From here, no more simplification can be done. So you can't factor out the 'b's
So
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