(3/x)+[13/(x-11)]

Question

(3/x)+[13/(x-11)]

anonymous · Answer

I got -28 for the answer but didn't know if it was right

tkhunny · Answer

??  Is there a value for x?

anonymous · Answer

no just to simplify.

anonymous · Answer

its 3 over x + 13 over x-11 and I am just supposed to simplify.

anonymous · Answer

given $$\frac{ 3 }{ x } + \frac{13}{x-11}$$
we can multiply any term by 1, right? We want a common denominator, so try multiplying each term by a version of 1... 
 $$\frac{x-11}{x-11}$$ 
and
$$\frac{x}{x}$$  respectively to see what happens.

anonymous · Answer

I did that and after everything i got -28

anonymous · Answer

If you don't have a value for x your answer should still include x. When you multiplied (x-11)/(x-11) and x/x what did you end up with?

anonymous · Answer

3x-33 over x^2-11x + 13x over x^2-11x

anonymous · Answer

would that be it or could i simplify more.

anonymous · Answer

Perfect. Now that you have a common denominator, you can combine your two fractions into one, combining like terms in your numerator: [(3x-33)+13x]/(x^2-11x)

anonymous · Answer

oh okay, so in the end it would be 16x-33 over x^2-11x?

anonymous · Answer

exactly! That's as simple as you can get. :) Good work