SOLUTION: I do not understand this word problem, can you help me? Take any number (except for 1). Square that number and then subtract one. Divide by one less than your original number.

Algebra ->  Square-cubic-other-roots -> SOLUTION: I do not understand this word problem, can you help me? Take any number (except for 1). Square that number and then subtract one. Divide by one less than your original number.       Log On


   

Question 196060: I do not understand this word problem, can you help me?
Take any number (except for 1). Square that number and then subtract one. Divide by one less than your original number. Now subtract your original number. Did you reached 1 for an answer? You should have. How does this number game work? (Hint: Redo the number game using a variable instead of an actual number and rewrite the problem as one rational expression). How did the number game use the skill of simplifying rational expressions? Create your own number game using the rules of algebra and post it for your classmates to solve. Be sure to think about values that may not work. State whether your number game uses the skill of simplifying rational expressions.
Answer by vleith(2983) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let X be the number you choose. X can be anything except 1.
Following the instructions:
Square it
X%2AX
Subtract 1
%28X%2AX%29+-1+
Divide by 1 less than the original number (Now you know why the original number can't be 1)
%28%28X%2AX%29-1%29+%2F+%28X-1%29
Now subtract the original number
%28%28%28X%2AX%29-1%29+%2F+%28X-1%29+-+X%29
Now get things over a common denominator
%28%28%28X%2AX%29-1%29+-+%28X-1%29%2AX%29%2F%28X-1%29%29
Expand
%28X%5E2+-+1+-+X%5E2+%2B+X%29%2F%28X-1%29
Simply
%28X-1%29%2F%28X-1%29
1
So that's how that one works.
You can do that same type of idea to make up your own problem.
Here's one
Pick a number between 0 and 49
Add 50
Multiply by 2
Subtract your original number
Subtract 100
What do you get? Ans: Original number
Why?