Question 344657: Perform the indicated operations and simplify
x-3/x-4 - x-1/x+4 + x-12/x^2-16 Found 2 solutions by haileytucki, MathTherapy:Answer by haileytucki(390) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! x-(3)/(x)-4-x-(1)/(x)+4+x-(12)/(x^(2))-16
Combine the numerators of all expressions that have common denominators.
x+(-3-1)/(x)-4-x+4+x-(12)/(x^(2))-16
Subtract 1 from -3 to get -4.
x+(-4)/(x)-4-x+4+x-(12)/(x^(2))-16
Move the minus sign from the numerator to the front of the expression.
x-(4)/(x)-4-x+4+x-(12)/(x^(2))-16
Since x and -x are like terms, add -x to x to get 0.
0-(4)/(x)-4+4+x-(12)/(x^(2))-16
Add 4 to -4 to get 0.
-(4)/(x)+x-(12)/(x^(2))-16
To add fractions, the denominators must be equal. The denominators can be made equal by finding the least common denominator (LCD). In this case, the LCD is x^(2). Next, multiply each fraction by a factor of 1 that will create the LCD in each of the fractions.
x*(x^(2))/(x^(2))-(4)/(x)*(x)/(x)-(12)/(x^(2))-16*(x^(2))/(x^(2))
Complete the multiplication to produce a denominator of x^(2) in each expression.
(x^(3))/(x^(2))-(4x)/(x^(2))-(12)/(x^(2))-(16x^(2))/(x^(2))
Combine the numerators of all expressions that have common denominators.
(x^(3)-4x-12-16x^(2))/(x^(2))
Reorder the polynomial x^(3)-4x-12-16x^(2) alphabetically from left to right, starting with the highest order term.
(x^(3)-16x^(2)-4x-12)/(x^(2))
