document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1106038>Question 1106038</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Hello,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Could I get some help with an algebra problem?\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Algebra problem:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "(2 - x + 2x^2 - x^3)/(x - 2)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "I keep getting - x^2 (x -2)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "but the book states:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "-(x^2 + 1)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "My procedure is:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "(2 - x + 2x^2 - x^3)/(x - 2) --><BR>\n" );
document.write( "(-x^3 + 2x^2 -x +2)/(x -2) --><BR>\n" );
document.write( "- (x^3 - 2x^2 + x - 2)/(x -2) --><BR>\n" );
document.write( "- (x^3 - 2x^2) (x - 2) - grouping --><BR>\n" );
document.write( "- x^2 (x - 2) (x - 2)/(x - 2)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "cancel the (x - 2) and I get:<BR>\n" );
document.write( " - x^2 (x - 2)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Does anyone know where I made my error?<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 #720965 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=greenestamps><B>greenestamps(13200)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=greenestamps><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=greenestamps><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=720965\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "The other tutor showed how to get the book's answer; he didn't point out where your error was....<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Here is what you show...<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "(2 - x + 2x^2 - x^3)/(x - 2)  original problem...<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "(-x^3 + 2x^2 -x +2)/(x -2)  put in standard form (decreasing powers) ... good<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "- (x^3 - 2x^2 + x - 2)/(x -2)  factor out the -1 to make the leading coefficient positive... okay, but not necessary<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "- (x^3 - 2x^2) (x - 2) - grouping  NO.  You have changed addition/subtraction to multiplication.  Your expression here should be<BR>\n" );
document.write( "- (x^3 - 2x^2) - (x-2)<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "- x^2 (x - 2) (x - 2)/(x - 2)  now of course this is invalid....<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "I don't remember what the other tutor showed in his response, so I will show how I would do this...<br><BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-%28x%5E2%2B1%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-%28x%5E2%2B1%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > </SPAN>\n" );
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