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 - Section 6.2 - Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions - Exercise Set - Page 427: 59

Answer

$\frac{3x^2+16xy-13y^2}{(x+5y)(x-5y)(x-4y)}$.

Work Step by Step

The given expression is $=\frac{3x-y}{x^2-9xy+20y^2}+\frac{2y}{x^2-25y^2}$ First denominator $=x^2-9xy+20y^2$. Rewrite the middle term $-9xy$ as $-5xy-4xy$ $=x^2-5xy-4xy+20y^2$ Group terms. $=(x^2-5xy)+(-4xy+20y^2)$ Factor each term. $=x(x-5y)-4y(x-5y)$ Factor out $(x-5y)$. $=(x-5y)(x-4y)$. Second denominator $=x^2-25y^2$. Use the algebraic identity $a^2-b^2=(a+b)(a-b)$. $=x^2-(5y)^2$ $=(x+5y)(x-5y)$ Substitute all factors into the given expression. $=\frac{3x-y}{(x-5y)(x-4y)}+\frac{2y}{(x+5y)(x-5y)}$ The LCM of all the denominators is $=(x+5y)(x-5y)(x-4y)$. $=\frac{3x-y}{(x-5y)(x-4y)}\times \frac{x+5y}{x+5y}+\frac{2y}{(x+5y)(x-5y)}\times \frac{x-4y}{x-4y}$ $=\frac{(3x-y)(x+5y)}{(x+5y)(x-5y)(x-4y)}+\frac{2y(x-4y)}{(x+5y)(x-5y)(x-4y)}$ $=\frac{(3x-y)(x+5y)+2y(x-4y)}{(x+5y)(x-5y)(x-4y)}$ $=\frac{3x^2+15xy-xy-5y^2+2xy-8y^2}{(x+5y)(x-5y)(x-4y)}$ Simplify. $=\frac{3x^2+16xy-13y^2}{(x+5y)(x-5y)(x-4y)}$.
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