College Algebra (6th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0-32178-228-3
ISBN 13: 978-0-32178-228-1

Chapter P - Prerequisites: Fundamental Concepts of Algebra - Exercise Set P.6 - Page 88: 106

Answer

$\dfrac{1}{x^{n}-1}-\dfrac{1}{x^{n}+1}-\dfrac{1}{x^{2n}-1}=\dfrac{1}{x^{2n}-1}$

Work Step by Step

$\dfrac{1}{x^{n}-1}-\dfrac{1}{x^{n}+1}-\dfrac{1}{x^{2n}-1}$ Evaluate the subtraction of the first two terms and simplify: $\dfrac{1}{x^{n}-1}-\dfrac{1}{x^{n}+1}-\dfrac{1}{x^{2n}-1}=...$ $...=\Big(\dfrac{1}{x^{n}-1}-\dfrac{1}{x^{n}+1}\Big)-\dfrac{1}{x^{2n}-1}=...$ $...=\dfrac{x^{n}+1-x^{n}+1}{(x^{n}-1)(x^{n}+1)}-\dfrac{1}{x^{2n}-1}=...$ $...=\dfrac{2}{(x^{n}-1)(x^{n}+1)}-\dfrac{1}{x^{2n}-1}=...$ The product on the denominator of the first fraction is the result of factoring a difference of squares. Evaluate this product: $...=\dfrac{2}{(x^{n})^{2}-1^{2}}-\dfrac{1}{x^{2n}-1}=\dfrac{2}{x^{2n}-1}-\dfrac{1}{x^{2n}-1}=...$ Both terms now have the same denominator. Evaluate this last subtraction: $...=\dfrac{2-1}{x^{2n}-1}=\dfrac{1}{x^{2n}-1}$
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