# Math Help - Help solving for z

1. ## Help solving for z

(3/z - 3) + (5/z - 1) = (8/z - 2) Is z negative or positive in this case?

2. Originally Posted by jay1
(3/z - 3) + (5/z - 1) = (8/z - 2) Is z negative or positive in this case?
solve it and see.

first step here. multiply both sides by z. see what you can do from there.

3. Originally Posted by jay1
(3/z - 3) + (5/z - 1) = (8/z - 2) Is z negative or positive in this case?
is the equation ...

$\left(\frac{3}{z} - 3\right) + \left(\frac{5}{z} - 1\right) = \left(\frac{8}{z} - 2\right)$

or

$\frac{3}{z-3} + \frac{5}{z-1} = \frac{8}{z-2}$

???

4. Originally Posted by skeeter
is the equation ...

$\left(\frac{3}{z} - 3\right) + \left(\frac{5}{z} - 1\right) = \left(\frac{8}{z} - 2\right)$

or

$\frac{3}{z-3} + \frac{5}{z-1} = \frac{8}{z-2}$

???
Skeeter, the equation is the latter. Thanks!

5. $\frac{3}{z-3} + \frac{5}{z-1} = \frac{8}{z-2}$

you need a common denominator

6. Originally Posted by jay1
Skeeter, the equation is the latter. Thanks!
well, that makes a world of difference. next time, use parentheses! or better yet, learn LaTeX (see my signature).

to start you off: multiply both sides of the equation by the LCD. in this case, that's (z - 1)(z - 2)(z - 3)

7. Originally Posted by Jhevon
well, that makes a world of difference. next time, use parentheses! or better yet, learn LaTeX (see my signature).

to start you off: multiply both sides of the equation by the LCD. in this case, that's (z - 1)(z - 2)(z - 3)
Does z = -4 ???

8. Originally Posted by jay1
Does z = -4 ???
no.

(you can check this by plugging that value for z into the original equation. you will see that the equation does not make sense with that z-value)

what was your next step after doing what i said?