SOLUTION: I am taking a college calculus class afterm some time off and I cannot remember how to solve simplify a polynomial with division. It is as follows: [(x+3/x+1)-2]/(x-1). What are

Algebra ->  Polynomials-and-rational-expressions -> SOLUTION: I am taking a college calculus class afterm some time off and I cannot remember how to solve simplify a polynomial with division. It is as follows: [(x+3/x+1)-2]/(x-1). What are      Log On


   

Question 146188: I am taking a college calculus class afterm some time off and I cannot remember how to solve simplify a polynomial with division.
It is as follows: [(x+3/x+1)-2]/(x-1). What are the rules to remember and how would I begin solving this?
Answer by nabla(475) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Essentially what you have here is

Now, what is the -2%2F%28x-1%29 term missing from the denominator????
(x+1).
Thus,
=%28x%2B3%29%2F%28%28x%2B1%29%28x-1%29%29-2%28x%2B1%29%2F%28%28x-1%29%28x%2B1%29%29
At this point we can combine the numerators.
=%28x%2B3-2x-2%29%2F%28%28x%2B1%29%28x-1%29%29
=%28-x%2B1%29%2F%28%28x%2B1%29%28x-1%29%29
=-%28x-1%29%2F%28%28x%2B1%29%28x-1%29%29
=-1%2F%28x%2B1%29
And that would be that.