Question 1208188
<pre>

It is very hard to teach students to type mathematical expressions all on one
line.  They will invariably fail to enclose numerators and denominators
(especially denominators) that contain more than just one number or just one
letter in parentheses.

But obviously no teacher teaching fractional equations would be testing to see
if a student at that level would be able to do such a simple thing as to
combine +1 and -4. 

So no doubt they meant this:

3/(x+1)-4=5/(x-2)  when typed all on one line.

{{{3/(x+1)-4=5/(x-2)}}}

Multiply through by LCD (x+1)(x-2)

{{{expr(3/(x+1))*(x+1)(x-2)-4*(x+1)(x-2)=expr(5/(x-2))*(x+1)(x-2)}}}

{{{expr(3/(cross(x+1)))*(cross(x+1))(x-2)-4*(x+1)(x-2)=expr(5/(cross(x-2)))*(x+1)cross((x-2))}}}

{{{3(x-2)-4(x+1)(x-2)=5(x+1)}}}

{{{3x-6-4(x^2-x-2)=5x+5)}}}

{{{3x-6-4x^2+4x+8=5x+5)}}}

{{{-4x^2+7x+2=5x+5}}}

{{{-4x^2+2x-3=0}}}

{{{4x^2-2x+3=0}}}

{{{x = (-b +- sqrt( b^2-4*a*c ))/(2*a) }}}

{{{x = (-(-2) +- sqrt((-2)^2-4*(4)*(3) ))/(2*(4)) }}}

{{{x = (2 +- sqrt(4-48 ))/8 }}}

{{{x = (2 +- sqrt(-44 ))/8 }}}

{{{x = (2 +- i*sqrt(4*11 ))/8 }}}

{{{x = (2 +- 2i*sqrt(11 ))/8 }}}

{{{x = (2(1 +- i*sqrt(11 )))/8 }}}

{{{x = (1 +- i*sqrt(11 ))/4 }}}

Edwin</pre>