document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=246820>Question 246820</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> I am hoping I am placing this is the correct category as I did not see one for rational expressions and equations.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "I know this seems fairly simple but for some reason I am extrremly confused ....i would really appreciate some help and explantion as to what i might be doing wrong.....\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "1) x^5-4x^3, x^3+4x^2+4x Instructions state to find LCM<BR>\n" );
document.write( "My answer: 2*2*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x, 2*2*2*2*x*x*x*x*x*x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "=2*2*2*2*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "answer: 16x^8\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "2)x^2/x-7 + 49/7-x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "answer: 49x^2  (I believe x-7 and 7-x cancel out. I am very confused though and when looking at the other examples in the book and doing the other exercises it does not look like my answers are correct. I am unsure as to where exactly I am going wrong or what I am simply not getting. Thank you so much for any guidance you can give me.....I truly appreciate it.  </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #180150 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><B>stanbon(75887)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><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=180150\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> 1) x^5-4x^3, x^3+4x^2+4x Instructions state to find LCM<BR>\n" );
document.write( "To find any LCM find the prime factors of the numbers you are given:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x^5-4x^3 = x^3(x^2-4) = x^3(x-2)(x+2)<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x^3+4x^2+4x = x(x^2+4x+4) = x(x+2)^2<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Then the LCM is the product of each of the prime factors to their <BR>\n" );
document.write( "highest power.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "LCM = x^3*(x-2)(x+2)^2<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "2)x^2/(x-7) + 49/(7-x)<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Rewrite as:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x^2/(x-7) - 49/(x-7)<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Since the denominators are the same, combine the numerators <BR>\n" );
document.write( "over the lcm.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(x^2-49)/(x-7)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Factor:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "[(x+7)(x-7)]/(x-7)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Cancel to get the final answer:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x+7<BR>\n" );
document.write( "==============<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Cheers,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Stan H.<BR>\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
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