document.write( "Question 324887: How do you solve 2x^-2 - x^-1 - 1 = 0? I need to get rid of the negative exponents and then solve using the quadratic formula. I am not sure of how to do this. \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #232609 by jim_thompson5910(35256) $\"\"$ $\"About$

You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Since $\"x%5E%28-1%29=1%2Fx%5E1=1%2Fx\"$ and $\"x%5E%28-2%29=1%2Fx%5E2\"$ , this means that $\"2x%5E%28-2%29+-+x%5E%28-1%29+-+1+=+0\"$ can be rewritten as $\"2%2Fx%5E2-1%2Fx-1=0\"$ \r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Now multiply EVERY term by the LCD $\"x%5E2\"$ to get $\"2-x-x%5E2=0\"$ . From there, rearrange the terms to get $\"-x%5E2-x%2B2=0\"$ and multiply every term by -1 to get $\"x%5E2%2Bx-2=0\"$ . I'll let you use the quadratic formula to solve. \n" ); document.write( "

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