document.write( "Question 1027248: For what value of x is the rational expression below equal to zero?
\n" ); document.write( "x-1/(x-3)(x+1)
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Algebra.Com's Answer #642544 by josgarithmetic(39618)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Expression as given or asked here,
\n" ); document.write( "x-1/(x-3)(x+1)\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Appears when rendered,
\n" ); document.write( "\"x-1%2F%28x-3%29%28x%2B1%29\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Raise to equivalent in higher terms,
\n" ); document.write( "\"x%28%28x-3%29%28x%2B1%29%29%2F%28%28x-3%29%28x%2B1%29%29-1%2F%28x-3%29%28x%2B1%29\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"%28x%28x%5E2-2x-3%29-1%29%2F%28%28x-3%29%28x%2B1%29%29\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"%28x%5E3-2x%5E2-3x-1%29%2F%28%28x-3%29%28x%2B1%29%29=0\"
\n" ); document.write( "Your interest is now to find the REAL roots of the NUMERATOR. Start with synthetic division to check on the roots, -1, and 1, probably the only possible real roots but there MIGHT be irrational roots, also real.\r
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document.write( "-1      |     1    -2    -3    -1\r\n" );
document.write( "        |          -1    3     0\r\n" );
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document.write( "             1     -3    0     -1          Not a root\r\n" );
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document.write( "1       |     1     -2     -3    -1\r\n" );
document.write( "        |\r\n" );
document.write( "        |            1     -1    -4\r\n" );
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document.write( "             1      -1     -4     -5       Not a root\r\n" );
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Use any other methods you know. You could try a graphing tool.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"graph%28400%2C400%2C-5%2C5%2C-10%2C10%2Cx%5E3-2x%5E2-3x-1%29\"
\n" ); document.write( "This appears to show two real roots but they are irrational. This seems strange.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Try a closer look:
\n" ); document.write( "\"graph%28400%2C400%2C-2%2C4%2C-3%2C3%2Cx%5E3-2x%5E2-3x-1%29\"
\n" ); document.write( "Only ONE Real, irrational root, and it is slightly greater than 3. \n" ); document.write( "
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