adding fractions?
3x x+2
———– + ————–
x^2-x-6 x^2-6x+9
same problem, i just thought it may be easier to read in the second one.
i am just lost on this one.
thanks
Favorite Answer
x^2 – x – 6 = (x – 3)(x + 2)
x^2 – 6x + 9 = (x – 3)^2
So the LCD will be (x + 2)(x – 3)^2. Let’s leave it factored for the moment, because it’s almost always easier to work with that.
To get the first fraction over the LCD, you’ll multiply by (x – 3)/(x – 3). That gives you
3x(x – 3)/LCD = (3x^2 – 9x)/LCD
To get the second over the LCD, you’ll multiply by (x + 2)/(x + 2). That gives you
(x + 2)(x + 2)/LCD = (x^2 + 4x + 4)/LCD
Putting them together, then, you have
(3x^2 – 9x + x^2 + 4x + 4)/LCD
= (4x^2 -5x + 4)/LCD
Your last step would be to factor the numerator and see if anything canceled with the denominator. If it doesn’t factor, then you’re done. I’ll leave that to you to determine.
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