document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1043622>Question 1043622</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28a%28x%2B1%29%2Bb%28x-1%29%29%2F%28x-2%29=2%2B%281%2F%28x-2%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28a%28x%2B1%29%2Bb%28x-1%29%29%2F%28x-2%29=2%2B%281%2F%28x-2%29%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "The equation above is true for all values of x&#8800;2, where a and b are constats. What is the value of a?<BR>\n" );
document.write( "A) -1/2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "B) 2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "C) 3<BR>\n" );
document.write( "D) 4 </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #658767 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jim_thompson5910><B>jim_thompson5910(35256)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jim_thompson5910><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=658767\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <font color=black size=3>\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "For now, I'm going to simplify the right side only\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Now I'm going to rearrange terms on the left side\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Take note that the x term on the left side numerator is <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28a%2Bb%29x ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28a%2Bb%29x\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >. The x term on the right side numerator is <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=2x ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"2x\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >. Equate the coefficients to get this equation <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a%2Bb=2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a%2Bb=2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The constant terms on the left side numerator is <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a-b ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a-b\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >. The constant terms on the right side numerator is <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-3 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-3\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >. Equate the terms to get the equation <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a-b=-3 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a-b=-3\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "We have this system of equations\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Let's add the two equations up\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "a+b=2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "a-b=-3<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "2a+0b=-1\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=2a=-1 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"2a=-1\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >. Divide both sides by 2 to isolate 'a'. Doing this will lead to <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a+=+-1%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a+=+-1%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So the answer is <font color=red size=4>choice A) -1/2</font>\r<BR>\n" );
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