Question

Simplify the difference.

Answer 1

\[\frac{ a^2-2a-3 }{ a^2-9a+18 }-\frac{ a^2-5a-6 }{ a^2+9a+8 }=\frac{ (a-3)(a+1) }{ (a-6)(a-3) }-\frac{ (a-6)(a+1) }{ (a+8)(a+1) }\]
\[=\frac{ a+1 }{ a-6 }-\frac{ a-6 }{ a+8 }\]
\[=\frac{ (a+1)(a+8)-(a-6)^2 }{ (a-6)(a+8) }\]

Answer 2

Finish it by expanding and factorising the numerator.

Answer 3

expanding?

Answer 4

Get rid of the brackets/paranthesis in the numerator.

Answer 5

by?

Answer 6

Do this.
\[(x+2)(x+1)=x^2+3x+2\]

Answer 7

Don't you know how to do that?

Answer 8

I'm not a fan of algebra 2 and I don't retain the information well.. so the numerator would be a^2 + 2a - 48?

Answer 9

Close but not quite. Could you please try again and repost your renewed answer.

Answer 10

YOu're expanding the numerator not the denominator.

Answer 11

Numerator is the top part of the fraction, not the bottom part.

Answer 12

oh yea...

Answer 13

-3a + 44

Answer 14

Nope. Try and collect the likes terms again.

Answer 15

You got the part where the x^2 cancel out but you're still wrong.

Answer 16

what did I do wrong?

Answer 17

you did not collect the like terms for "a" and the constants correctly.

Answer 18

I'm not sure what you mean

Answer 19

\[(a+1)(a+8)−(a−6)^2\]
\[=a^2+8a+a+8-(a^2-12a+36)\]
Solve from there.

Answer 20

That's the numerator. Remember that.