SOLUTION: totally stumped on how to solve this problem: {{{ (y-1)/(y^2-3y-4) }}}{{{""=""}}}{{{ 1/(y-4) - 1/(y+1)}}}

Algebra ->  Quadratic Equations and Parabolas -> SOLUTION: totally stumped on how to solve this problem: {{{ (y-1)/(y^2-3y-4) }}}{{{""=""}}}{{{ 1/(y-4) - 1/(y+1)}}}       Log On


   

Question 1003886: totally stumped on how to solve this problem:
+%28y-1%29%2F%28y%5E2-3y-4%29++++%22%22=%22%22++1%2F%28y-4%29++++-+++1%2F%28y%2B1%29
Found 2 solutions by Edwin McCravy, mananth:
Answer by Edwin McCravy(20055) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
   
+%28y-1%29%2F%28y%5E2-3y-4%29++++%22%22=%22%22++1%2F%28y-4%29++++-+++1%2F%28y%2B1%29

Factor the denominator of the first term:

+%28y-1%29%2F%28%28y-4%29%28y%2B1%29%29++++%22%22=%22%22++1%2F%28y-4%29++++-+++1%2F%28y%2B1%29

Multiply through by the LCD = (y-4)(y+1) written over 1:

%22%22=%22%22++red%28expr%28%28%28y-4%29%28y%2B1%29%29%2F1%29%29expr%281%2F%28y-4%29%29++++%22%22-%22%22+++red%28expr%28%28%28y-4%29%28y%2B1%29%29%2F1%29%29expr%281%2F%28y%2B1%29%29

%22%22=%22%22
                        %22%22-%22%22 

y-1+%22%22=%22%22+%28y%2B1%29-%28y-4%29

y-1+%22%22=%22%22+y%2B1-y%2B4

y-1+%22%22=%22%22+5

y%22%22=%22%226

Edwin

Answer by mananth(16946) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
totally stumped on how to solve this problem:

y-1/y^2-3y-4 = 1/y-4 - 1/y+1
(y-1)/(y-4)(y+1) = ((y+1)-(y-4))/(y+1)(y-4)
=> (y-1) = (y+1-y+4)
y-1 = 5
y=6