document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1140272>Question 1140272</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Find the values of a and b that make the following expression an identity:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( " (5x)/((x−2)(x+3)) = a/(x−2) + b/(x+3)  </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #760750 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=greenestamps><B>greenestamps(13203)</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=760750\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "(1) multiply both sides of the equation by the least common denominator, (x-2)(x+3)<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=5x+=+a%28x%2B3%29%2Bb%28x-2%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"5x+=+a%28x%2B3%29%2Bb%28x-2%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=5x+=+ax%2B3a%2Bbx-2b ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"5x+=+ax%2B3a%2Bbx-2b\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=5x+%2B+0+=+%28a%2Bb%29x+%2B+%283a-2b%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"5x+%2B+0+=+%28a%2Bb%29x+%2B+%283a-2b%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "The coefficient of x must be the same on both sides; and the constant must be the same on both sides.  This gives you a system of two equations in a and b that you can solve to find the solution to the problem.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a%2Bb+=+5 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a%2Bb+=+5\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=3a-2b+=+0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"3a-2b+=+0\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Solve by any of a number of basic methods. </SPAN>\n" );
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