SOLUTION: I was wondering if you could please help me. The problem is find all numbers for which the rational expression is undefined, (11/17w).I believe you multiply the top and bottom by 1

Algebra ->  Polynomials-and-rational-expressions -> SOLUTION: I was wondering if you could please help me. The problem is find all numbers for which the rational expression is undefined, (11/17w).I believe you multiply the top and bottom by 1      Log On


   

Question 207302: I was wondering if you could please help me. The problem is find all numbers for which the rational expression is undefined, (11/17w).I believe you multiply the top and bottom by 17w which would be (187w/17w^2) and square them.But I'm not sure is tht the correct answer? Thank you inadvance for your time.
Answer by Edwin McCravy(20060) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
I was wondering if you could please help me. The problem is find all numbers for which the rational expression is undefined, (11/17w).I believe you multiply the top and bottom by 17w which would be (187w/17w^2) and square them.But I'm not sure is tht the correct answer? Thank you inadvance for your time.

No, you don't do that at all! You use the fact that
an expression is undefined when the denominator equals
to zero.  So all you do is make the equation

DENOMINATOR=0

The denominator of 11%2F%2817w%29 is 17w, so we make
the equation

17w=0

Divide both sides by 17

17w%2F17=0%2F17

cross%2817%29w%2Fcross%2817%29=0

w=0

So the only number w for which 11%2F%2817w%29 is
undefined is when w is 0.

You might ask, "What happens to the numerator, 11?"
You simply ignore the numerator because it is only
the denominator equaling zero that causes the expression
to be undefined.

Edwin