document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=612723>Question 612723</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> I am very confused by the problem below, mostly once you get the common denominator. What do you do after you get that to complete the problem? We were shown an example, but it was not very explanatory. Any helpful tips would be much appreciated. Thanks!!!<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "During the first part of a trip, a canoeist travels 49 miles at a certain speed. The canoeist travels 4 miles on the second part of the trip at a speed of 5 mph slower. The total time for the trip is 2 hours. What was the speed on each part of the trip?<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 #385694 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=scott8148><B>scott8148(6628)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=scott8148><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/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=scott8148><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=385694\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> t = d / r ___ the total time is 2 hr\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "2 = (49 / x) + [4 / (x - 5)]\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "the common denominator is the product of the two denominators<BR>\n" );
document.write( "___ change the denominator of  a fraction by multiplying by the missing factor, divided by itself; eg. [(x - 5) / (x - 5)]<BR>\n" );
document.write( "___ a quantity divided by itself equals one; multiplying by one does not change the value of the fraction\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "2 = (49 / x)[(x - 5) / (x - 5)] + [4 / (x - 5)](x / x)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "2 = {[49(x - 5)] / [x(x - 5)]} + {[4(x)] / [x(x - 5)]}\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "2[x(x - 5)] = 49(x - 5) + 4(x)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "2x^2 - 10x = 53x - 245 ___ 2x^2 - 63x + 245 = 0\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "use the quadratic formula to find x </SPAN>\n" );
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