Question

can someone help me understand how i would go about solving this

Answer 1

Well first of all, I have to remember the rule for how to subtract two things like that. Those are basically just fancy fractions, so do you remember how to subtract two fractions? For example,
2/3 - 1/6

Answer 2

would i ust subtract straight across?

Answer 3

You can multiply fractions straight across, but that's not the rule for adding and subtracting.
To add or subtract fractions, my first step is to find a common denominator.

Answer 4

there is no common denom between 4 and 5 though

Answer 5

You can always find a common denominator. For 4 and 5, I would use 20.

Answer 6

You're looking a the wrong number. The denominator is the bottom number.

Answer 7

wait so would the bottom look like (3y+2))(3y+2) or are the signs wrong?

Answer 8

I need the denominators to match.

Answer 9

The denominator on the right, 9y^2 -4
factors into (3y +2)(3y-2)

Answer 10

oh okay

Answer 11

how would i solve the top part?

Answer 12

You want to make a common denom

Answer 13

first term of the problem you gave has denom of 3y-2. Second has a denom of 9y^2-4, which, as SmoothMath mentioned, can be factored into (3y+2)(3y-2). Now, take the first term, multiply both top and bottom by 3y+2 (i.e., multiply by (3y+2)/(3y+2)). You now have a common denominator, which with it you can easily simplify the expression.

Answer 14

would it be 12y+3?

Answer 15

I think that is the final numerator...