solve a squared-2a-3/a squared-9a +18 minus a squared -5a-6/a squared+9a+8

Question

magbak · Answer

do not listen to cambel he gives wrong answers.

campbell_st · Answer

well your question looks like 

$$\frac{a^2 -2a -3}{a^2 - 9a + 18} - \frac{a^2 -5a -6}{a^2 + 9a + 8}$$

your 1st step should be to factor all the quadratics. 

$$\frac{(a +1)(a -3)}{(a - 3)(a-6)} - \frac{(a - 6)(a + 1)}{(a + 1)(a + 8)}$$

cancel the common factors... 

then get the common denominator, and cross multiply. 

then distribute and collect like terms and simplify.

anonymous · Answer

Thanks! Greatly appreciated.  I came up with
2asquared-28/(a-6)(a+8).  Hope its right.  Thanks

campbell_st · Answer

ummm I think the denominator is correct but the numerator may be

$$\frac{a^2 + 9a + 8 - a^2 + 12a -36}{(x -6)(a +8)} = \frac{21a - 28}{(a - 6)(a + 8)}$$

and the numerator can be factored to 7(3x - 4)

anonymous · Answer

Thanks for breaking it down.  HUGE help.  Thanks again