Intermediate Algebra for College Students (7th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0-13417-894-7
ISBN 13: 978-0-13417-894-3

Chapter 6 - Review Exercises - Page 497: 32

Answer

$ \frac{4(x-2)}{2x+5}$

Work Step by Step

The given expression is $\Rightarrow \frac{\frac{4}{x+3}}{\frac{2}{x-2}-\frac{1}{x^2+x-6}}$ Factor $x^2+x-6$ Rewrite the middle term $x$ as $3x-2x$. $\Rightarrow x^2+3x-2x-6$ Group the terms. $\Rightarrow (x^2+3x)+(-2x-6)$ Factor each group. $\Rightarrow x(x+3)-2(x+3)$ Factor out $(x+3)$. $\Rightarrow (x+3)(x-2)$. Substitute back the factor into the given expression. $\Rightarrow \frac{\frac{4}{x+3}}{\frac{2}{x-2}-\frac{1}{(x+3)(x-2)}}$ The LCD is $(x+3)(x-2)$. Multiply the numerator and the denominator by $(x+3)(x-2)$. $\Rightarrow \frac{(x+3)(x-2)\left (\frac{4}{x+3}\right )}{(x+3)(x-2)\left (\frac{2}{x-2}-\frac{1}{(x+3)(x-2)}\right)}$ Use the distributive property. $\Rightarrow \frac{(x+3)(x-2)\left (\frac{4}{x+3}\right )}{(x+3)(x-2)\left (\frac{2}{x-2}\right)-(x+3)(x-2)\left (\frac{1}{(x+3)(x-2)}\right)}$ Cancel common terms. $\Rightarrow \frac{4(x-2)}{2(x+3)-1}$ Use the distributive property. $\Rightarrow \frac{4(x-2)}{2x+6-1}$ Simplify. $\Rightarrow \frac{4(x-2)}{2x+5}$
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