# algebra problem

• March 14th 2010, 06:31 PM
stabza
algebra problem
Hey Math Helpers

Having some trouble with simplifying this one.

$\frac{3+x}{x} - \frac{x^2+2}{x^2}$

Do I square both sides?

Cheers
• March 14th 2010, 06:52 PM
skeeter
Quote:

Originally Posted by stabza
Hey Math Helpers

Having some trouble with simplifying this one.

$\frac{3+x}{x} - \frac{x^2+2}{x^2}$

Do I square both sides?

Cheers

get a common denominator and combine the fractions into a single fraction.
• March 14th 2010, 07:14 PM
stabza
solution?
$
\frac {x^2(3+x)}{x^3} - \frac{x(x^2+2)}{x^3}
$

= $\frac{3x^2+x^3-x^3+2x}{x^3}$

Is this next stop wrong?

= $\frac {3x - 2}{x^2}$

Thanks
• March 14th 2010, 07:24 PM
Bacterius
Quote:

Originally Posted by stabza
$
\frac {x^2(3+x)}{x^3} - \frac{x(x^2+2)}{x^3}
$

= $\frac{3x^2+x^3-x^3+2x}{x^3}$

Is this next stop wrong?

= $\frac {3x - 2}{x^2}$

Thanks

Actually, your final answer is right but you failed on the signs in the middle step :

$\frac {x^2(3+x)}{x^3} - \frac{x(x^2+2)}{x^3}$

$\frac{3x^2+x^3-x^3 {\color{red}{-}} 2x}{x^3}$

$\frac {3x - 2}{x^2}$