SOLUTION: I am studying for a college entrance exam and am stumped by this question. I tried to solve it in many different ways, and have worked on it over and over again but I still cannot

Algebra ->  Equations -> SOLUTION: I am studying for a college entrance exam and am stumped by this question. I tried to solve it in many different ways, and have worked on it over and over again but I still cannot       Log On


   

Question 254497: I am studying for a college entrance exam and am stumped by this question. I tried to solve it in many different ways, and have worked on it over and over again but I still cannot find an answer that I am confident is correct. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
9x^2/144 - 4/25
I tried to make the fractions have the same denominator, then subtract, then reduce but that was incorrect.
Thanks!
-Britt
Found 2 solutions by drk, richwmiller:
Answer by drk(1908) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The original question was
%289%2F144%29x%5E2+-+4%2F25
This is a difference of two squares and can be factored as
%28%283%2F12%29x+-+2%2F5%29%2A%28%283%2F12%29x+%2B+2%2F5%29
This can be further simplified to
%28%281%2F4%29x+-+2%2F5%29%2A%28%281%2F4%29x+%2B+2%2F5%29

Answer by richwmiller(17219) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
You didn't say what you want to with this mess.
Is there an equal sign somewhere?
Is it
(9x^2)/(144 - 4/25) yields (225 x^2)/3596
or
(9x^2/144)-(4/25) yields x^2/16-4/25 or 1/400(5x-8)(5x+8)