SOLUTION: Hi, I am being introduced to algebra and I don't understand how to simplify the following. X^-3 + X^-2 ----------- - X

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Question 1066217: Hi,
I am being introduced to algebra and I don't understand how to simplify the following.
X^-3 + X^-2
-------------
X
Found 2 solutions by josgarithmetic, MathTherapy:
Answer by josgarithmetic(39616) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Write the expression like this in pure text:
(x^(-3)+x^(-2))/x

If put inside of the triple curly brackets tags,
%28x%5E%28-3%29%2Bx%5E%28-2%29%29%2Fx

Same as, because of the negative exponents,
%281%2Fx%5E3%2B1%2Fx%5E2%29%2Fx

Simplest common denominator between numerator and denominator is x^3. Multiply the entire rational expression by x%5E3%2Fx%5E3.

%28%281%2Fx%5E3%2B1%2Fx%5E2%29%2Fx%29%28x%5E3%2Fx%5E3%29
now keep going until finished simplifying.

Answer by MathTherapy(10551) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

Hi,
I am being introduced to algebra and I don't understand how to simplify the following.
X^-3 + X^-2
-------------
X
If %28x%5E%28-+3%29+%2B+x%5E%28-+2%29%29%2Fx, then the correct way to simplify it is:

%281%2Fx%5E3+%2B+1%2Fx%5E2%29%2Fx

We SEPARATE the expression to get: %281%2Fx%5E3+%2B+1%2Fx%5E2%29%22%F7%22x%2F1

%281+%2B+x%29%2Fx%5E3%29%22%F7%22x%2F1 ------ Multiplying left expression by LCD, x%5E3

%281+%2B+x%29%2Fx%5E3%22%2A%221%2Fx------- Applying KEEP, CHANGE, FLIP