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 May 17th, 2009, 04:18 PM #1 Newbie   Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 simplification how would i simplify -3 + x x [color=#FFFFFF]_-[/color] 3 disregard _- in white, i just was trying to set it up as a fraction.
 May 17th, 2009, 06:05 PM #2 Senior Member   Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 895 Thanks: 0 Re: simplification You are adding fractions. Find a common denominator. Do it exactly as you would if you replaced x by a natural number greater than 1.
May 18th, 2009, 05:15 AM   #3
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Quote:
 Originally Posted by Delta disregard _- in white, i just was trying to set it up as a fraction.
You can format as -3/x + x/3.

Quote:
 Originally Posted by Delta how would i simplify -3 + x x [color=#FFFFFF]_-[/color] 3
You have:

[color=white]. . . . .[/color]$-\frac{3}{x}\, +\, \frac{x}{3}$

The common denominator is clearly 3x, so convert:

[color=white]. . . . .[/color]$\left(-\frac{3}{x}\right)\left(\frac{3}{3}\right)\, +\, \left(\frac{x}{3}\right)\left(\frac{x}{x}\right)$

[color=white]. . . . .[/color]$-\frac{9}{3x}\, +\, \frac{x^2}{3x}$

...and so forth.

 May 18th, 2009, 12:52 PM #4 Senior Member   Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 895 Thanks: 0 Re: simplification ...and so forth? You might as well have finished it. ... =(x^2 - 9)/3x It will factor, but not worthwhile doing so in this case, nor necessary. I think the main point is to get to understand the processes involved when dealing with any rational form, either arithmetic or algebra. That takes much more than one example for the beginner, and usually some discussion along the way.

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