document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=195715>Question 195715</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> I hope i picked the right section to put this problem in.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "alright here is the problem, i am totally lost on how to do this:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "(x/x+4) - (2/x-1) = (20/x^2+3x-4)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "HELP! </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #146759 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jim_thompson5910><B>jim_thompson5910(35256)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jim_thompson5910><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=146759\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%2F%28x%2B4%29-2%2F%28x-1%29=20%2F%28x%5E2%2B3x-4%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%2F%28x%2B4%29-2%2F%28x-1%29=20%2F%28x%5E2%2B3x-4%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Start with the given equation.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%2F%28x%2B4%29-2%2F%28x-1%29=20%2F%28%28x%2B4%29%28x-1%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%2F%28x%2B4%29-2%2F%28x-1%29=20%2F%28%28x%2B4%29%28x-1%29%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Factor. Take note that <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%3C%3E-4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%3C%3E-4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > or <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%3C%3E1 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%3C%3E1\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > as these values cause a division by zero.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=cross%28%28x%2B4%29%29%28x-1%29%28x%2Fcross%28%28x%2B4%29%29%29-%28x%2B4%29cross%28%28x-1%29%29%282%2Fcross%28%28x-1%29%29%29=cross%28%28x%2B4%29%28x-1%29%29%2820%2Fcross%28%28x%2B4%29%28x-1%29%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Multiply <font size=\"4\"><b>every</b></font> term on both sides by the LCD <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28x%2B4%29%28x-1%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28x%2B4%29%28x-1%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >. Doing this will eliminate all of the fractions.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28x-1%29%28x%29-%28x%2B4%29%282%29=20 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28x-1%29%28x%29-%28x%2B4%29%282%29=20\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Cancel out and simplify\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%28x-1%29-2%28x%2B4%29=20 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%28x-1%29-2%28x%2B4%29=20\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Rearrange the terms.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2-x-2x-8=20 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2-x-2x-8=20\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Distribute.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2-x-2x-8-20=0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2-x-2x-8-20=0\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Subtract 20 from both sides.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2-3x-28=0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2-3x-28=0\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Combine like terms.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Notice we have a quadratic equation in the form of <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=ax%5E2%2Bbx%2Bc ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"ax%5E2%2Bbx%2Bc\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > where <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a=1 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a=1\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=b=-3 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"b=-3\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, and <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=c=-28 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"c=-28\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Let's use the quadratic formula to solve for x\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%28-b+%2B-+sqrt%28+b%5E2-4ac+%29%29%2F%282a%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%28-b+%2B-+sqrt%28+b%5E2-4ac+%29%29%2F%282a%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Start with the quadratic formula\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%28-%28-3%29+%2B-+sqrt%28+%28-3%29%5E2-4%281%29%28-28%29+%29%29%2F%282%281%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%28-%28-3%29+%2B-+sqrt%28+%28-3%29%5E2-4%281%29%28-28%29+%29%29%2F%282%281%29%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Plug in  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a=1 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a=1\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=b=-3 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"b=-3\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, and <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=c=-28 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"c=-28\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%283+%2B-+sqrt%28+%28-3%29%5E2-4%281%29%28-28%29+%29%29%2F%282%281%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%283+%2B-+sqrt%28+%28-3%29%5E2-4%281%29%28-28%29+%29%29%2F%282%281%29%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Negate <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-3 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-3\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=3 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"3\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >. \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%283+%2B-+sqrt%28+9-4%281%29%28-28%29+%29%29%2F%282%281%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%283+%2B-+sqrt%28+9-4%281%29%28-28%29+%29%29%2F%282%281%29%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Square <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-3 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-3\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=9 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"9\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >. \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%283+%2B-+sqrt%28+9--112+%29%29%2F%282%281%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%283+%2B-+sqrt%28+9--112+%29%29%2F%282%281%29%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Multiply <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=4%281%29%28-28%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"4%281%29%28-28%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-112 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-112\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%283+%2B-+sqrt%28+9%2B112+%29%29%2F%282%281%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%283+%2B-+sqrt%28+9%2B112+%29%29%2F%282%281%29%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Rewrite <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=sqrt%289--112%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"sqrt%289--112%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > as <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=sqrt%289%2B112%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"sqrt%289%2B112%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%283+%2B-+sqrt%28+121+%29%29%2F%282%281%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%283+%2B-+sqrt%28+121+%29%29%2F%282%281%29%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Add <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=9 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"9\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=112 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"112\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=121 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"121\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%283+%2B-+sqrt%28+121+%29%29%2F%282%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%283+%2B-+sqrt%28+121+%29%29%2F%282%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Multiply <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > and <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=1 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"1\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >. \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%283+%2B-+11%29%2F%282%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%283+%2B-+11%29%2F%282%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Take the square root of <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=121 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"121\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=11 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"11\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >. \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%283+%2B+11%29%2F%282%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%283+%2B+11%29%2F%282%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > or <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%283+-+11%29%2F%282%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%283+-+11%29%2F%282%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Break up the expression. \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+%2814%29%2F%282%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+%2814%29%2F%282%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > or <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=++%28-8%29%2F%282%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=++%28-8%29%2F%282%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Combine like terms. \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+7 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+7\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > or <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+-4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+-4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Simplify. \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So the <i>possible</i> answers are <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+7 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+7\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > or <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+-4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+-4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "However, we stated earlier that <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%3C%3E-4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%3C%3E-4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > or <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%3C%3E1 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%3C%3E1\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > (they cause a division by zero). So we must ignore the <i>possible</i> solution <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+-4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+-4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > (it is not in the domain)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Answer:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So the only solution is <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+7 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+7\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
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document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );