Question

6/49x^3-5/42x^2

Answer 1

are the x^3 and x^2 terms in the denominators?

Or is it like (6/49)x^3 - (5/42)x^2 ?

Answer 2

\[\frac{ 6 }{ 49x ^{3} } - \frac{ 5 }{ 42x ^{2} }\]

Answer 3

You need a common denominator to be able to subtract.

For the x part, you will need to somehow get an x^3 on the bottom of the 2nd term.

To do that, multiply 5/(42x^2) by (x/x) to get 5x/(42x^3)

So, then you would have \[\frac{ 6 }{ 49x ^{3} } - \frac{ 5x }{ 42x ^{3} }\]

Answer 4

That is closer, since both terms have x^3 on the bottom, but you still need a common denominator.

Multiply the left term by (42/42) and the right term by (49/49)

\[(\frac{ 6 }{ 49x ^{3} } \times \frac{ 42 }{ 42 }) - (\frac{ 5x }{ 42x ^{3} } \times \frac{ 49 }{ 49 })\]

Answer 5

so, you have a lot of multiplying to do there, but once you do it, you can just subtract the right term from the left. Then simplify as best as you can :)

Answer 6

almost... on the bottom, it will be 2058x^3