document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=107649>Question 107649</A>This question is from textbook <A HREF=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0321319087/algebrahomeworkh>Intermediate Algebra</A><BR>\n" );
document.write( ": <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Please help me simplify this complex rational expression:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "6/x^2-4  -  5/x+2\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "_________________\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "7/x^2-4  -  4/x-2 </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #78607 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=ankor@dixie-net.com><B>ankor@dixie-net.com(22740)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=ankor@dixie-net.com><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=ankor@dixie-net.com><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=78607\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Assume you mean:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=6%2F%28%28x%5E2-4%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"6%2F%28%28x%5E2-4%29%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > - <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=5%2F%28%28x%2B2%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"5%2F%28%28x%2B2%29%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "-------------------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=7%2F%28%28x%5E2-4%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"7%2F%28%28x%5E2-4%29%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > - <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=4%2F%28%28x-2%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"4%2F%28%28x-2%29%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Note that (x^2 - 4) can be factored to (x+2)(x-2) <BR>\n" );
document.write( "That will the common denominator for both the numerator & denominator fractions.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%286+-+5%28x-2%29%29%2F%28%28x-2%29%28x%2B2%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%286+-+5%28x-2%29%29%2F%28%28x-2%29%28x%2B2%29%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >     <BR>\n" );
document.write( "------------- =  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%287+-+4%28x%2B2%29%29%2F%28%28x%2B2%29%28x-2%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%287+-+4%28x%2B2%29%29%2F%28%28x%2B2%29%28x-2%29%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >     <BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Multiply what's inside the brackets<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%286+-+5x+%2B+10%29%2F%28%28x-2%29%28x%2B2%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%286+-+5x+%2B+10%29%2F%28%28x-2%29%28x%2B2%29%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "----------------- =<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%287+-+4x+-+8%29%2F%28%28x%2B2%29%28x-2%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%287+-+4x+-+8%29%2F%28%28x%2B2%29%28x-2%29%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( ":<BR>\n" );
document.write( ":<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%2816+-+5x%29%2F%28%28x-2%29%28x%2B2%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%2816+-+5x%29%2F%28%28x-2%29%28x%2B2%29%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "-----------------  =<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28-1+-+4x%29%2F%28%28x%2B2%29%28x-2%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28-1+-+4x%29%2F%28%28x%2B2%29%28x-2%29%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Invert the dividing fraction and multiply:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%2816+-+5x%29%2F%28%28x-2%29%28x%2B2%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%2816+-+5x%29%2F%28%28x-2%29%28x%2B2%29%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > * <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28%28x%2B2%29%28x-2%29%29%2F%28-1+-+4x%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28%28x%2B2%29%28x-2%29%29%2F%28-1+-+4x%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( ":\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Cancel (x+2)(x-2) and you have:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%2816-5x%29%2F%28-1+-+4x%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%2816-5x%29%2F%28-1+-+4x%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( ":<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Did this help you? Any questions?<BR>\n" );
document.write( "   </SPAN>\n" );
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