SOLUTION: Perform the indicated operations and simplify x-3 / x-9 - x+1 / x+9 + x-117 / x^2-81 very confused and i am lost, please help me

Algebra ->  Polynomials-and-rational-expressions -> SOLUTION: Perform the indicated operations and simplify x-3 / x-9 - x+1 / x+9 + x-117 / x^2-81 very confused and i am lost, please help me      Log On


   

Question 359073: Perform the indicated operations and simplify

x-3 / x-9 - x+1 / x+9 + x-117 / x^2-81


very confused and i am lost, please help me
Answer by vleith(2983) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Get the three terms over a common denominator. Then expand and simplfy if possible

x%5E2+-81+=+%28x-9%29%28x%2B9%29 so let's get all three terms over x%5E2-81

Now expand the first two terms
%28%28x%5E2%2B6x-27%29-%28x%5E2-8x+-9%29%2B+%28x-117%29%29%2F%28x%5E2-81%29
Collect like terms in the numerator
%2815x+-+135%29%2F%28x%5E2-81%29
%2815%28x-9%29%29%2F%28x%5E2-81%29
Now Simplify (remember that x%5E2+-81+=+%28x-9%29%28x%2B9%29
15%2F%28x%2B9%29