Introductory Algebra for College Students (7th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0-13417-805-X
ISBN 13: 978-0-13417-805-9

Chapter 7 - Section 7.3 - Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions with the Same Denominator - Exercise Set - Page 507: 71

Answer

$\displaystyle \frac{3y^{2}+8y-5}{(y+1)(y-4)}$

Work Step by Step

We rewrite the factor $y-4$ as $-(4-y)$ in the denominator of the first term: $\displaystyle \frac{(y-3)(y+2)}{(y+1)(y-4)}=\frac{(y-3)(y+2)}{-(y+1)(4-y)}=-\frac{(y-3)(y+2)}{(y+1)(4-y)}$ We now have $=-\left( \displaystyle \frac{(y-3)(y+2)}{(y+1)(4-y)}+\frac{(y+2)(y+3)}{(y+1)(4-y)}+\frac{(y+5)(y-1)}{(y+1)(4-y)}\right)$ To add/subtract rational expressions with the same denominator, add/subtract numerators and place the sum/difference over the common denominator. $=-\left( \displaystyle \frac{(y-3)(y+2)+(y+2)(y+3)+(y+5)(y-1)}{(y+1)(4-y)} \right)$ $=-\left( \displaystyle \frac{(y+2)[y-3+y+3]+[y^{2}-y+5y-5]}{(y+1)(4-y)} \right)$ $=-\left( \displaystyle \frac{(y+2)[2y]+y^{2}-y+5y-5}{(y+1)(4-y)} \right)$ $=-\left( \displaystyle \frac{2y^{2}+4y+y^{2}-y+5y-5}{(y+1)(4-y)} \right)$ $=-\left( \displaystyle \frac{3y^{2}+8y-5}{(y+1)(4-y)} \right)$ $... $for $ax^{2}+bx+c$ we search for factors of $ac$ whose sum is $b$ ... if sucessful, rewrite $bx $ and factor in pairs. $... $here, factors of $3\cdot(-5)=-15$ ... whose sum is $8 ..$. do not exist ... so the numerator is left as it is. Apply the minus back into the factor of the denominator... = $\displaystyle \frac{3y^{2}+8y-5}{(y+1)(y-4)}$
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