Thread: Is this Complex Rational Expression right?

(x+5)(x-2) - (x+5)(x+1)
---------- ----------
(x+5)(x+1) (x+5)(x-2)
--------------------------
(x+5)(x+1) - (x+5)(x-2)
----------- -----------
(x+5)(x-2) (x+5)(x+1)

So I factor them than I multiply times the LCD which (x+5)(x+1)(x-2)

I got this.

(x+5)(x-2)(x-2) - (x+5)(x+1)(x+1)
-----------------------------------
(x+5)(x+1)(x+1) - (x+5)(x-2)(x-2)

Than I subtracted like terms (x+5) which left me with this.

(x-2)(x-2)(x+1)(x+1)
---------------------
(x+1)(x+1)(x-2)(x-2)

I cancel like terms which is everything so I got this

1
--- = 1
1

What do you guys think does that look right?

Originally Posted by carlos_gaona_17

(x+5)(x-2) - (x+5)(x+1)
---------- ----------
(x+5)(x+1) (x+5)(x-2)
--------------------------
(x+5)(x+1) - (x+5)(x-2)
----------- -----------
(x+5)(x-2) (x+5)(x+1)

So I factor them than I multiply times the LCD which (x+5)(x+1)(x-2)

I got this.

(x+5)(x-2)(x-2) - (x+5)(x+1)(x+1)
-----------------------------------
(x+5)(x+1)(x+1) - (x+5)(x-2)(x-2)

Than I subtracted like terms (x+5) which left me with this.

(x-2)(x-2)(x+1)(x+1)
---------------------
(x+1)(x+1)(x-2)(x-2)

I cancel like terms which is everything so I got this

1
--- = 1
1

What do you guys think does that look right?

Red part has error above
It should be
(x-2)(x-2) - (x+1)(x+1)
---------------------
(x+1)(x+1)(x-2)(x-2)


(x-2)(x-2) - (x+1)(x+1)
= ---------------------
(x+1)(x+1)(x-2)(x-2)





=

Where did you get that 3 from?

Originally Posted by carlos_gaona_17

Where did you get that 3 from?

You can't cancel across addition or subtraction signs.

So to simplify the top you'd have to expand and collect like terms.

I however, get as my final answer

.

carlos_gaona_17 you just messed up in typing the question.
please use Latex while typing the mathematical expressions in this forum.

If you take LCM, your expression will reduce to

= -1