document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=30385>Question 30385</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> (1/a + 1) / (1/a2 - 1)\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "The book gives an answer as: a/1-a, but I just can't see how they get it.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "You must first multiply both numerator and denominator by the LCD, right? Isn't this 2a? When I multiply both by it, I get:\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "(2 + 2a) / (1 - 2a)\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "and get stuck there. What am I doing wrong? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #17093 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=sdmmadam@yahoo.com><B>sdmmadam@yahoo.com(530)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-10.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=sdmmadam@yahoo.com><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=17093\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> If the answer should be a/(1-a), then the problem should be<BR>\n" );
document.write( "[(1/a) + 1)] / [(1/a2) - 1)]<BR>\n" );
document.write( "=[(1 + a)/a] divided by  [(1-a^2)/a^2]<BR>\n" );
document.write( "= [(1 + a)/a] X  a^2/(1-a^2)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "= [(1 + a)/a] X  a^2/[(1+a)(1-a)]<BR>\n" );
document.write( "=[a^2(1+a)]/[a(1+a)(1-a)]  (multiplying nr by nr and dr by dr)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "= a/(1-a)  (cancelling a(1+a) )<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Answer: a/(1-a)\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "And for the given problem (1/a + 1) / (1/a2 - 1)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "the steps are as follows:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "[1/(a + 1)]divided by[1/(a2 - 1)]<BR>\n" );
document.write( "= [1/(a + 1)]divided by {1/[(a+1)(a-1)]}<BR>\n" );
document.write( "= [1/(a + 1)]multiplied by [(a+1)(a-1)]/1 <BR>\n" );
document.write( "= [1/(a + 1)]X [(a+1)(a-1)]/1 <BR>\n" );
document.write( "=(a-1)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Answer: (a-1)\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "(when you replace a division symbol by the multiplication symbol the fraction that comes after the division symbol should be reciprocated that is the new fraction near the multiplication symbol should be 1/(old fraction) )\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );