SOLUTION: Could someone show me how to subtract? {{{a/(w+a)-a/(w-a)}}}

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Question 154373: Could someone show me how to subtract?
a%2F%28w%2Ba%29-a%2F%28w-a%29
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
a%2F%28w%2Ba%29-a%2F%28w-a%29 Start with the given expression


%28%28w-a%29%2F%28w-a%29%29%28a%2F%28w%2Ba%29%29-a%2F%28w-a%29 Multiply the first fraction by %28w-a%29%2F%28w-a%29.


%28a%28w-a%29%29%2F%28%28w-a%29%28w%2Ba%29%29-a%2F%28w-a%29 Combine and multiply the fractions.


%28aw-a%5E2%29%2F%28%28w-a%29%28w%2Ba%29%29-a%2F%28w-a%29 Distribute


Multiply the second fraction by %28w%2Ba%29%2F%28w%2Ba%29.


%28aw-a%5E2%29%2F%28%28w-a%29%28w%2Ba%29%29-%28a%28w%2Ba%29%29%2F%28%28w-a%29%28w%2Ba%29%29Combine and multiply the fractions.



%28aw-a%5E2%29%2F%28%28w-a%29%28w%2Ba%29%29-%28aw%2Ba%5E2%29%2F%28%28w-a%29%28w%2Ba%29%29 Distribute


%28aw-a%5E2-%28aw%2Ba%5E2%29%29%2F%28%28w-a%29%28w%2Ba%29%29 Subtract the fractions by subtracting the numerators


%28aw-a%5E2-aw-a%5E2%29%2F%28%28w-a%29%28w%2Ba%29%29 Distribute


%28-2a%5E2%29%2F%28%28w-a%29%28w%2Ba%29%29 Combine like terms


%28-2a%5E2%29%2F%28w%5E2-a%5E2%29 FOIL


So a%2F%28w%2Ba%29-a%2F%28w-a%29=%28-2a%5E2%29%2F%28w%5E2-a%5E2%29 where w%3C%3Ea or w%3C%3E-a