document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1007414>Question 1007414</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Write 3x-1/x+1 in a form a/x+1 +b state the values of a and b  </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #623344 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=josgarithmetic><B>josgarithmetic(39620)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=josgarithmetic><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=623344\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> You might really mean this:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(3x-1)/(x+1) in a form a/(x+1)+b\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Not the same as what you wrote.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Better notation will resemble the two forms, <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%283x-1%29%2F%28x%2B1%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%283x-1%29%2F%28x%2B1%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > and <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a%2F%28x%2B1%29%2Bb ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a%2F%28x%2B1%29%2Bb\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Begin with the second form, the one using two terms, and combine into a single rational expression.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a%2F%28x%2B1%29%2Bb%28%28x%2B1%29%2F%28x%2B1%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a%2F%28x%2B1%29%2Bb%28%28x%2B1%29%2F%28x%2B1%29%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a%2F%28x%2B1%29%2B%28bx%2Bb%29%2F%28x%2B1%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a%2F%28x%2B1%29%2B%28bx%2Bb%29%2F%28x%2B1%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28a%2Bbx%2Bb%29%2F%28x%2B1%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28a%2Bbx%2Bb%29%2F%28x%2B1%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=highlight_green%28%28bx%2Ba%2Bb%29%2F%28x%2B1%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"highlight_green%28%28bx%2Ba%2Bb%29%2F%28x%2B1%29%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, and this is comparable in form to the first given rational expression.  Now the comparison of corresponding expressions or variables and numbers gives you:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=system%28bx=3x%2C-1=a%2Bb%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"system%28bx=3x%2C-1=a%2Bb%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "and simpler  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=system%28b=3%2Ca%2Bb=-1%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"system%28b=3%2Ca%2Bb=-1%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >-----b is obvious, and solving for a is simple.  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a=-4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a=-4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >. </SPAN>\n" );
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