# Thread: algebraic fraction question HELP!!!

1. ## algebraic fraction question HELP!!!

ok so i deffinantly should know the answer to this question but my brain died about an hour ago and i do not see a resurrection in its future.

i am begining to get very frusterated and am feeling stupider every time i try.

so i will forever love you if someone could explain how to do this problem for me:

$(y^2+y+1)/(2y-2y^4)$

2. When faced with a problem like this, see if you can factor anything. That may lead to cancellations and simplification.

$\frac{y^{2}+y+1}{2y-2y^{4}}$

By the difference of two cubes, the denominator factors into $2y-2y^{4} = 2y(1-y^{3}) = 2y(1-y)(y^{2}+y+1)$

See now what to do?.

3. Originally Posted by galactus

By the difference of two cubes, the denominator factors into $2y-2y^{4} = 2y(1-y^{3}) = 2y(1-y)(y^{2}+y+1)$

See now what to do?.

Thank you so much for your help!

but i dont understand how you go from [/tex]2y(1-y^{3})[/tex] to $2y(1-y)$

i am so sorry i really dont know where my brain is today.

4. See what's in the parentheses?. That's the difference of two cubes

$x^{3}-y^{3}=(x-y)(x^{2}+xy+y^{2})$

$(1)^{3}-(y)^{3}$

See it now?.

5. wow ok i am so sorry but i get it

$2y(1-y^{3}) = 2y[(1-y)(y^{2}+y+1)]$
so
$(y^{2}+y+1)/2y[(1-y)(y^{2}+y+1)] = 1/[2y(1-y)]$

right?

6. Good work. You got it.