Question 23065
<pre>X^2+2/3x Can someone help me?? 
<font size = 3><b>

Is the problem

x<sup>2</sup> + 2
------ 
  3x

  ?

If so you must type it (x<sup>2</sup> + 2)/(3x)

As you have typed it would be read

      2
x<sup>2</sup> +  - x
      3

In typing a mathematical expression on one line, if a numerator or a
denominator contains more than one letter or one number (it can include
an exponent BTW) then that entire numerator or denominator MUST be
placed within parentheses to indicate where the numerator or denominator
begins and ends. 

I will assume you meant:

x<sup>2</sup> + 2
------ 
  3x

Then since the numerator contains two terms, you will separate it into
two fractions. First write down two lines with a sign between them.
Use the same sign between them that the numerator terms have between them:


---- + ----

Now place the two terms on top of the lines:

 x<sup>2</sup>      2
---- + ----

Now place the same denominator under each line:

 x<sup>2</sup>      2
---- + ----
 3x     3x

Now the first fraction has a 1 exponent understood in the denominator:

 x<sup>2</sup>      2
---- + ----
 3x<sup>1</sup>    3x

Subtract the exponents of x (larger minus snaller) and place the result
where the larger exponent was before (in the numerator).  That is, you
subtract the exponents of x<sup>2</sup> and x<sup>1</sup>, getting x<sup>1</sup>, and place this x<sup>1</sup> in
the numerator because that's where the larger exponent, 2, was before.

 x<sup>1</sup>      2
---- + ----
  3     3x

Then you can erase the 1 exponent in the left numerator

 x      2
--- + ----
 3     3x

That's the way to leave the answer.

Edwin
AnlytcPhil@aol.com</pre>