document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1206053>Question 1206053</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Simplify :\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "(6-a-a^2)/(a^2-4)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "So I  factor to cancel terms <BR>\n" );
document.write( "(2-a)(3+a)/(a+2)(a-2)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "And so I get <BR>\n" );
document.write( "(3+a)/(a+2)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "BUT <BR>\n" );
document.write( "The answer on the book is <BR>\n" );
document.write( "(-3+a)/(a+2)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Where did the negative sign come from ?<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Please help.thanks In advance ! </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #843246 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=843246\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "I hope you mean the answer in the book is <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-%283%2Ba%29%2F%28a%2B2%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-%283%2Ba%29%2F%28a%2B2%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > and not <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28-3%2Ba%29%2F%28a%2B2%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28-3%2Ba%29%2F%28a%2B2%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >....<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "In the work you show, you have....<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28%282-a%29%283%2Ba%29%29%2F%28%28a%2B2%29%28a-2%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28%282-a%29%283%2Ba%29%29%2F%28%28a%2B2%29%28a-2%29%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "and then<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%283%2Ba%29%2F%28a%2B2%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%283%2Ba%29%2F%28a%2B2%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "That means you canceled the factors <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%282-a%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%282-a%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > and <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28a-2%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28a-2%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "But those factor are not the same; they are opposites: <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%282-a%29=-1%28a-2%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%282-a%29=-1%28a-2%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "So <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28%282-a%29%283%2Ba%29%29%2F%28%28a%2B2%29%28a-2%29%29=%28%28-1%29%28a-2%29%283%2Ba%29%29%2F%28%28a%2B2%29%28a-2%29%29=-%283%2Ba%29%2F%28a%2B2%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><br><BR>\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );