Question

Simplify 3/x+1 + 4/x-2 Can someone show me how to solve this?

Answer 1

solve as in "add"?

Answer 2

yes

Answer 3

\[\frac{3}{x+1}+\frac{4}{x-2}=\frac{3(x-2)+4(x+1)}{(x+1)(x-2)}\] then some algebra to clean up the numerator

Answer 4

What was the first step?

Answer 5

the first step is to add like you would add two fractions
\[\frac{a}{b}+\frac{c}{d}=\frac{ad+bc}{ad}\] in this case
\(a=3, b=x+1, c=4, d=x-2\)

Answer 6

Do I distribute in the numerators?