document.write( "Question 11838: 3a-1/a^2+4a+4 - 3/a^2+2a = 3/a
\n" ); document.write( "this is a problem from my homework that is asking me to simply solve the equation. i don't know where or how to start to get the correct answer of
\n" ); document.write( "a = -9/8
\n" ); document.write( "any help with this would be greatly appreciated.
\n" ); document.write( "thanks
\n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #6052 by longjonsilver(2297)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
i am assuming you mean \"%283a-1%29%2F%28a%5E2%2B4a%2B4%29+-+3%2F%28a%5E2%2B2a%29+=+3%2Fa\"? If so, then...\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"%283a-1%29%2F%28a%5E2%2B4a%2B4%29+-+3%2F%28a%5E2%2B2a%29+=+3%2Fa\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"%283a-1%29%2F%28%28a%2B2%29%28a%2B2%29%29+-+3%2F%28a%28a%2B2%29%29+=+3%2Fa\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So, just fractions now...i will multiply both sides, that is ALL terms by the same thing, namely a(a+2)(a+2), as this is the lowest common factor of all three fractions. Doing this does not \"change\" the equation, it just \"scales\" it up a bit.\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "By multiplying each term by the above, we can then cancel the fractions to leave:\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"a%283a-1%29+-+3%28a%2B2%29+=+3%28a%2B2%29%28a%2B2%29\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"a%283a-1%29+-+3%28a%2B2%29+=+3%28a%5E2+%2B+4a+%2B+4%29\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"3a%5E2+-a+-+3a+-+6+=+3a%5E2+%2B+12a+%2B+12\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"3a%5E2+-4a+-+6+=+3a%5E2+%2B+12a+%2B+12\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"-4a+-+6+=+12a+%2B+12\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"-+6+=+16a+%2B+12\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"-18+=+16a\"
\n" ); document.write( "or 16a = -18
\n" ); document.write( "--> a = -18/16
\n" ); document.write( "--> a = -9/8\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "jon.
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" );