document.write( "Question 23939: Solve the equation\r
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Algebra.Com's Answer #12651 by AnlytcPhil(1806)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
(b+17)/(b^2 –1) – 1/(b+1) = (b-2)/(b-1) \r\n" );
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document.write( " b+17      1      b-2\r\n" );
document.write( "—————— - ————— = —————\r\n" );
document.write( " b2-1     b+1     b-1\r\n" );
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document.write( "We clear of fractions.  Factor the denominator of\r\n" );
document.write( "the first fraction\r\n" );
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document.write( "    b+17         1      b-2\r\n" );
document.write( "———————————— - ————— = —————\r\n" );
document.write( " (b-1)(b+1)     b+1     b-1\r\n" );
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document.write( "The LCD of these denominators is (b-1)(b+2)\r\n" );
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document.write( "Multiply each term by (b-1)(b+1)/1\r\n" );
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document.write( "(b-1)(b+1)    b+17        (b-1)(b+1)   1     (b-1)(b+1)  b-2\r\n" );
document.write( "——————————·———————————— - ——————————·————— = ——————————·—————\r\n" );
document.write( "    1       (b-1)(b+1)        1       b+1        1       b-1\r\n" );
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document.write( "Now we cancel\r\n" );
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document.write( "(b-1)(b+1)    b+17        (b-1)(b+1)   1     (b-1)(b+1)  b-2\r\n" );
document.write( "——————————·———————————— - ——————————·————— = ——————————·—————\r\n" );
document.write( "    1       (b-1)(b+1)        1       b+1        1       b-1\r\n" );
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document.write( "That leaves just\r\n" );
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document.write( "                             b+17 - (b-1) = (b+1)(b-2)\r\n" );
document.write( "                            b + 17 - b + 1 = b2 - 2b + b - 2\r\n" );
document.write( "                                        18 = b2 - b - 2\r\n" );
document.write( "                                         0 = b2 - b - 20\r\n" );
document.write( "                                         0 = (b-5)(b+4)\r\n" );
document.write( "                                \r\n" );
document.write( "              Set each factor = 0\r\n" );
document.write( "                                 \r\n" );
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document.write( "                                   b-5 = 0 gives b = 5                          \r\n" );
document.write( "                                   b+4 = 0 gives b = -4\r\n" );
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document.write( "Edwin\r\n" );
document.write( "AnlytcPhil@aol.com

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