SOLUTION: i am currently working on the carnegie learning disc. i have submitted parts of the problem twice and both times it tells me the answers were wrong, so here is the whole scenario:

Question 65657: i am currently working on the carnegie learning disc. i have submitted parts of the problem twice and both times it tells me the answers were wrong, so here is the whole scenario:i have to completely simplify this rational expression but only one step at a time- this is what i came up with: (x-2)^2(x+7)/((x-2)(x+7)^2(x-8))...first step...simplify fractions,which = X-2/((x+7)(x-8)), second step: distribute in (x+7)(x-8),which= x-2/((x-8)*x+(x-8)*7...third step: factor,which equals x-2/((x-8)(x+7)). 4th step: distribute in (x-8)(x+7),which = x-2/x(x+7)-8(x+7). 5 th step: factor...which =x-2/((x+7)(x-8)).6th step: distribute in x-2/((x+7)(x-8)),which = x/((x+7)(x-8))(-2/((x+7))(x-8)). 7th step:simplify signs, which= x/((x+7)(x-8))-2/(x+7)(x-8)...then it keeps telling me to factor , but when i choose factor common factor, it wont let me do it. please check my steps and make sure i am doing them right. i have been stuck on this problem for 3 days. thanks so very much!!
Found 2 solutions by venugopalramana, funmath:
Answer by venugopalramana(3286) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
SEE MY COMMENTS BELOW.......
FIRSTLY TELL WHAT IS OBJECTIVE?WHAT ARE WE TO FIND OR PROVE OR CALCULATE?
YOU HAVE NOT MENTIONED THAT.UNLESS,WE HAVE THE OBJECTIVE IN MIND ,
WE DO NOT KNOW THE PATH TO TAKE.
i am currently working on the carnegie learning disc. i have submitted parts of the problem twice and both times it tells me the answers were wrong, so here is the whole scenario:i have to completely simplify this rational expression but only one step at a time- this is what i came up with:
(x-2)^2(x+7)/((x-2)(x+7)^2(x-8))
WHAT IS TO BE DONE???
...first step...simplify fractions,which = X-2/((x+7)(x-8)),
OK
second step: distribute in (x+7)(x-8),...WHY?YOU WANT TO EXPAND THE DR?OK..
which= x-2/((x-8)*x+(x-8)*7)...
OK
third step: factor,which equals x-2/((x-8)(x+7)).WHY GOING BACK ..IN CIRCLES?
THAT IS BECAUSE WE DONT KNOW THE OBJECTIVE!
4th step: distribute in (x-8)(x+7),which = x-2/x(x+7)-8(x+7). SEE AGAIN REPETETION!!WRITE DOWN THE OBJECTIVE FIRST.THEN THIS WONT HAPPEN
5 th step: factor...which =x-2/((x+7)(x-8)).
AGAIN SAME DILEMMA
6th step: distribute in x-2/((x+7)(x-8)),which = [x/((x+7)(x-8))]-[(2/((x+7))(x-8)).NO SEE THE CORRECTIONS MADE
7th step:simplify signs, which= [x/((x+7)(x-8))]-[2/(x+7)(x-8)]...then it keeps telling me to factor , but when i choose factor common factor, it wont let me do it. please check my steps and make sure i am doing them right. i have been stuck on this problem for 3 days. thanks so very much!!
AS LONG AS WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS TO BE FOUND WE CANT RESPOND.
IT IS SAME IN MATHS OR LIFE.YOU LEAVE YOUR SCHOOL SAY.UNLESS YOU ARE CLEAR IN YOUR MIND THAT YOU HAVE TO GO HOME,YOU DO NOT KNOW WHICH ROAD TO TAKE!!
Answer by funmath(2933) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
I think you did everything right, however, if you don't put parentheses in the appropriate places, the computer won't know what you mean.

Type this in this way:
(x-2)/((x+7)(x-8))
If that doesn't work, you may have to put a * to indicate multiplication like this:
(x-2)/((x+7)*(x-8))
A lot of programs and teachers consider this simplified, if yours still isn't happy multiply the bottom. Since you said it was saying to factor, I think you are probably already done, but if not:
(x-2)/(x^2-x-56)
There are a lot of ways to write the correct answer, the best thing to do is look at some examples from the disk to see what they want. You were separating the numerator, which is something that the books that I work out of don't do when asked to simplify, but you seemed to be doing it correctly.
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