SOLUTION: My problem is this: What is the answer to the following fraction that has X to the negative 2 over x to the negative 1 minus x to the negative 2

Algebra ->  Exponents-negative-and-fractional -> SOLUTION: My problem is this: What is the answer to the following fraction that has X to the negative 2 over x to the negative 1 minus x to the negative 2      Log On


   

Question 286387: My problem is this:
What is the answer to the following fraction that has X to the negative 2 over x to the negative 1 minus x to the negative 2
Answer by richwmiller(17219) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Fractions do not have questions and therefore do not have answers.
Perhaps you would like it reduced or simplified?
Is this the fraction?
x%5E%28-2%29%2F%28x%5E%28-1%29-x%5E%28-2%29%29
Learn to write in math talk and use plenty of parentheses
Your problem can be interpreted many ways
x^(-2)/(x^(-1)-x^(-2))
The key is that x^(-2)=1/x^2
and x^(-1)=1/x
so we redo the equation
%281%2Fx%5E2%29%2F%281%2Fx-1%2Fx%5E2%29
multiply through by x^2/x^2
1/(x-1)
BTW we could have multiplied by x^2/x^2 in the beginning without redoing.
x^(-2)/(x^(-1)-x^(-2))
1/x-1
Remember that x^(-2)*x^(2)=x^0=1
so the final result is 1/(x-1)