Question

How do I simplify:
x-3 3-x
----- - ----
x^2-4 4-x^2

Answer 1

make the denominators the same. one way is multiply the second fraction top and bottom by -1

Answer 2

\[(x-3\div x ^{2}-4) - (3-x \div 4-x ^{2})\]

Answer 3

that's what I did. And I got

x-3 3+x
----- + -------
x^2-4 (x^2-4)

Answer 4

it is still a minus between the two fractions.

Answer 5

why?

Answer 6

what do you mean?

Answer 7

the top was (3-x)
times -1 you get -1(3-x)= -3+x = x+3

Answer 8

ohhh.

Answer 9

Looks good.

Answer 10

ohh, okay. thank you!

Answer 11

Though, to not confuse myself, I would re-write the original problem as
\[ \frac{x-3)}{x^2-4} + \frac{-(3-x)}{4-x^2} \]

Answer 12

what?

Answer 13

isn't it suppose to be subtraction?

Answer 14

then multiply top and bottom by -1 to get
\[\frac{(x-3)}{x^2-4} + \frac{(3-x)}{x^2-4}\]

Answer 15

yes by x - y is the same as x + (-y)

Answer 16

oh. okay. thank you!

Answer 17

don't worry about it if it is not helpful

Answer 18

Final answer is 0

Answer 19

it is?

Answer 20

what did you get?

Answer 21

the answer is 6/x^2-4.. o.o

Answer 22

on the back of my book.

Answer 23

hello?

Answer 24

Did you post same equation as in the book?

Answer 25

yes..

x+3 3-x
------ - -----
x^2 - 4 4-x^2

Answer 26

which is the same as
\[ \frac{x+3}{x^2-4} + \frac{3-x}{x^2-4} \]
\[ = \frac{x+3+3-x}{x^2-4} \]

Answer 27

looks like your book is right!

Answer 28

ohhhh!!

Answer 29

I used the minus sign to change the denominator.
But it should work if we multiply top and bottom by -1 and go from there.

Answer 30

yup, I see it! :P Thank you!

Answer 31

I think I don't like minus signs!

Answer 32

OK, I see how you confused me. In the original problem you have (x-3) in the first fraction. Now you have (x+3).

Answer 33

ohhh, yeah. Sorry!! D: