SOLUTION: Subtract and express result in simplest form 5a - 12 - 3a - 2 ------- ------- a^2-8a+15 - a^2-8a+15 The top part of the fraction I believe would end up looki

Algebra ->  Equations -> SOLUTION: Subtract and express result in simplest form 5a - 12 - 3a - 2 ------- ------- a^2-8a+15 - a^2-8a+15 The top part of the fraction I believe would end up looki      Log On


   



Question 65481: Subtract and express result in simplest form
5a - 12 - 3a - 2
------- -------
a^2-8a+15 - a^2-8a+15
The top part of the fraction I believe would end up looking like this:
5a - 12 = -7a
3a - 2 = 1a
The bottom part of the fraction would result in
a^2-8a+15 = 23a^3
Leaving the equation ending with the result of:
-7a - 1a
-------------
23a^3 23a^3
Simplest form would be:
-6a
----
23a^3
Is this correct for this problem? Thank you

Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
5a - 12 - 3a - 2
------- -------
a^2-8a+15 - a^2-8a+15
---------------------
The denominators are the same so subtract the numerators
and write over the common denominator, as follows:
=[5a-12-(3a-2)]/[(a-3)(a-5)]
=[2a-10]/[(a-3)(a-5)]
=[2(a-5)]/[(a-3)(a-5)]
=2/(a-3)
Cheers,
Stan H.