document.write( "Question 24207: We have tried this problem and can't get it - My mom can't figure it out either.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "y-1 a-b
\n" ); document.write( "____ = ______\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "y+1 a+b solve for y\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "It tells me to cross multiply and I have gotten to this step\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(y-1)(a+b)=(y+1)(a-b)\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Do I now go to ya-1b = ya-1b - this is where I am lost please help
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Algebra.Com's Answer #12872 by josmiceli(19441)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Your real problem is that you haven't quite figured out the multiplication when
\n" ); document.write( "you have terms to add in the factors. You just need practice and new ways to
\n" ); document.write( "look at it.
\n" ); document.write( "How about this:
\n" ); document.write( "(3 + 4)(6 + 2)
\n" ); document.write( "multiply the 6 times the numbers in the first parenthesis. so far we have:
\n" ); document.write( "18 + 24
\n" ); document.write( "now multiply the 2 times the numbers in the first parenthesis. we have:
\n" ); document.write( "6 + 8
\n" ); document.write( "now add them
\n" ); document.write( "18 + 24 + 6 + 8 = 56
\n" ); document.write( "now check
\n" ); document.write( "(3 + 4)(6 + 2) = 7 * 8 = 56
\n" ); document.write( "practice it this way instead of with symbols
\n" ); document.write( "now the problem:
\n" ); document.write( "\"%28y+-+1%29+%2F+%28y+%2B+1%29+=+%28a+-+b%29+%2F+%28a+%2B+b%29\"
\n" ); document.write( "cross multiply:
\n" ); document.write( "\"%28y+-+1%29+%2A+%28a+%2B+b%29+=+%28y+%2B+1%29+%2A+%28a+-+b%29\"
\n" ); document.write( "now follow the same process you did with (3 + 4)(6 + 2)
\n" ); document.write( "\"%28y+%2A+a%29+-+a+%2B+%28y+%2A+b%29+-+b+=+%28y+%2A+a%29+%2B+a+-+%28y+%2A+b%29+-+b\"
\n" ); document.write( "subtract y*a from both sides
\n" ); document.write( "\"+-a+%2B+%28y+%2A+b%29+-+b+=+%2Ba+-%28y+%2A+b%29+-b\"
\n" ); document.write( "add b to both sides
\n" ); document.write( "\"+-a+%2B+%28y+%2A+b%29+=+a+-%28y+%2A+b%29\"
\n" ); document.write( "now you want to add y*b to both sides
\n" ); document.write( "\"-a+%2B+2+%2A+y+%2A+b+=+a\"
\n" ); document.write( "add a to both sides
\n" ); document.write( "\"2+%2A+y+%2A+b+=+2+%2A+a\"
\n" ); document.write( "divide both sides by 2*b
\n" ); document.write( "\"y+=+a+%2F+b\"
\n" ); document.write( "unless I goofed, that's the answer
\n" ); document.write( "try things like (2 + 5 - 1)(4 - 2 + 7) and you'll be a real expert!\r
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