SOLUTION: The problem that I am working on is this one: 1/a-b + 4/b-a -8/a+b - 11a-5b/b^2-a^2 I know that I have to find the common denominator but on this problem I keep getting confused..

Question 454769: The problem that I am working on is this one:
1/a-b + 4/b-a -8/a+b - 11a-5b/b^2-a^2 I know that I have to find the common denominator but on this problem I keep getting confused...
Answer by josmiceli(19441) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!

First factor the denominator of the last term

Now express the first term as:

Combine the first two terms:

So far I have:

Now multiply top and bottom of 1st term by
Multiply top and bottom of 2nd term by

Now combine the fractions with common denominator:

Combine terms in the numerator

The numerator is , so

One way to check the answer is to give values for and
Note that cannot = , since the answer would be
I'll say ,

(1:a-b) + (4:b-a) - (8:a+b)... (answered by greenestamps)