document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=128558>Question 128558</A>This question is from textbook <A HREF=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0321269470/algebrahomeworkh>Introductory Algebra</A><BR>\n" );
document.write( ": <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> I think I came up with the right answer, but would love for someone to double-check my work!  The problem reads:  Solve\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "3a-5/a^2+4a+3  +  2a+2/a+3  = a-3/a+1\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "I came up with a = -6 or -1 </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #94068 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=94068\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Let's verify the solution <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a=-6 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a=-6\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%283a-5%29%2F%28a%5E2%2B4a%2B3%29+%2B+%282a%2B2%29%2F%28a%2B3%29=%28a-3%29%2F%28a%2B1%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%283a-5%29%2F%28a%5E2%2B4a%2B3%29+%2B+%282a%2B2%29%2F%28a%2B3%29=%28a-3%29%2F%28a%2B1%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Start with the given equation\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%283%28-6%29-5%29%2F%28%28-6%29%5E2%2B4%28-6%29%2B3%29+%2B+%282%28-6%29%2B2%29%2F%28%28-6%29%2B3%29=%28%28-6%29-3%29%2F%28%28-6%29%2B1%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Plug in <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a=-6 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a=-6\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >. In other words, replace each <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > with <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-6 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-6\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28-18-5%29%2F%2836-24%2B3%29+%2B+%28-12%2B2%29%2F%28-6%2B3%29=%28-6-3%29%2F%28-6%2B1%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28-18-5%29%2F%2836-24%2B3%29+%2B+%28-12%2B2%29%2F%28-6%2B3%29=%28-6-3%29%2F%28-6%2B1%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Square and multiply\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-23%2F15+%2B+10%2F3=9%2F5 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-23%2F15+%2B+10%2F3=9%2F5\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Combine like terms\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=9%2F5=9%2F5 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"9%2F5=9%2F5\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Combine the fractions on the right side and reduce\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Since the two sides of the equation are equal, this verifies our answer.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Let's verify the solution <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a=-1 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a=-1\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%283a-5%29%2F%28a%5E2%2B4a%2B3%29+%2B+%282a%2B2%29%2F%28a%2B3%29=%28a-3%29%2F%28a%2B1%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%283a-5%29%2F%28a%5E2%2B4a%2B3%29+%2B+%282a%2B2%29%2F%28a%2B3%29=%28a-3%29%2F%28a%2B1%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Start with the given equation\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%283%28-1%29-5%29%2F%28%28-1%29%5E2%2B4%28-1%29%2B3%29+%2B+%282%28-1%29%2B2%29%2F%28%28-1%29%2B3%29=%28%28-1%29-3%29%2F%28%28-1%29%2B1%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Plug in <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a=-1 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a=-1\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >. In other words, replace each <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > with <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-1 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-1\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28-3-5%29%2F%281-4%2B3%29+%2B+%28-2%2B2%29%2F%28-1%2B3%29=%28-1-3%29%2F%28-1%2B1%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28-3-5%29%2F%281-4%2B3%29+%2B+%28-2%2B2%29%2F%28-1%2B3%29=%28-1-3%29%2F%28-1%2B1%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Square and multiply\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28-8%29%2F%280%29+%2B+0%2F%282%29=%28-4%29%2F%280%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28-8%29%2F%280%29+%2B+0%2F%282%29=%28-4%29%2F%280%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Combine like terms\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Notice how there are denominators of zero. Since division by zero is undefined,  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a=-1 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a=-1\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > is <b>not</b> a solution of the equation.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So our only solution is\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a=-6 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a=-6\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > </SPAN>\n" );
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