document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=41238>Question 41238</A>This question is from textbook <A HREF=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0072549017/algebrahomeworkh>Beginning Algebra</A><BR>\n" );
document.write( ": <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Subtract. Write answer in simplest form.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "5a - 12/a^2 - 8a + 15 minus 3a -2/a^2 - 8a + 15\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Thanks!<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #26659 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=zeynep><B>zeynep(43)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-07.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=zeynep><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=26659\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> 5a - 12/a^2 - 8a + 15 minus 3a -2/a^2 - 8a + 15\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "I understand the question like this; <BR>\n" );
document.write( "(5a - 12)/(a^2 - 8a + 15) minus (3a -2)/(a^2 - 8a + 15)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Since the denominators are the same we can subtract the numerators from each other;\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "((5a - 12)-(3a -2))/(a^2 - 8a + 15)= (5a-12-3a+2)/(a^2 - 8a + 15)=<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(2a-10)/(a^2 - 8a + 15)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Now let's factor the numerator;\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "2a-10 = 2(a-5)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "And if we factor the denominator;\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "a^2 - 8a + 15=(a-3)(a-5)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So now we have;<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2(a-5)/(a-3)(a-5) (if we divide out the common factor (a-5), we get)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2/(a-3)\r<BR>\n" );
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