SOLUTION: I need to solve this rational equation 18/x-3+18/x+3=8

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Question 411220: I need to solve this rational equation 18/x-3+18/x+3=8
Found 3 solutions by nadim, MathTherapy, greenestamps:
Answer by nadim(2) About Me  (Show Source):
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18/x-3+18/x+3=8 or,18/x+18/x=8
or,(18+18)/x=8 or,36/x=8,or,x=36/8 or,x=9/2
therefore,x=9/2

Answer by MathTherapy(10839) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
I need to solve this rational equation 18/x-3+18/x+3=8
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Solution depends on whether it's 18%2Fx+-+3+%2B+18%2Fx+%2B+3+=+8 or 18%2F%28x+-+3%29+%2B+18%2F%28x+%2B+3%29+=+8!

The person who responded has the former, but who knows!

Answer by greenestamps(13355) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


Almost certainly, your equation is 18/(x-3)+18/(x+3)=8. (If you are working a problem like this, then you should be far enough in your study of algebra to know that proper use of parentheses is important!)

Inspection and a little logical reasoning and mental arithmetic show that x=6 is a solution. However, formal algebra shows that there are two solutions....

18%2F%28x-3%29%2B18%2F%28x%2B3%29=8

Multiply both sides by %28x-3%29%28x%2B3%29 to clear fractions:

18%28x%2B3%29%2B18%28x-3%29=8%28x%2B3%29%28x-3%29
18x%2B54%2B18x-54=8%28x%5E2-9%29=8x%5E2-72

36x=8x%5E2-72
8x%5E2-36x-72=0
2x%5E2-9x-18=0
%28x-6%29%282x%2B3%29=0

x=6 or x=-3%2F2

ANSWERS: 6 and -3/2