Question

Simplify this thing (picture)

Answer 1

Have you considered factoring? This will expose a common denominator.

Answer 2

Yes that is as far as I got. So far I have

(x+5)(x-1)/(x+5)(x-4) - 2(x+5)/(x+4)(x+5)

Now what? This is where i am stuck

Answer 3

@tkhunny

Answer 4

rather than giving the second term a common multiple, which you could do, I would recommend dividing out the (x+5) in the first term as its in both the numerator and the denominator. then you should notice that both the first and second terms will have a common denominator anyways and you can simplify from there

Answer 5

Ok, so (x-1)/x(-4) - 2/(x-4)

Answer 6

I guess I don't know how to subtract the numerator.

Answer 7

alright so since they both have the same denominator, you can subtract the numerators as you normally would.
for example, 1/2 + 1/2 = 2/2 = 1 right? or 3/5 + 1/5 = 4/5
the same rules of addition apply to any functions with common denominators
since x-1 and -2 are both over x-4, you can add or subtract them as you normally would.
alternatively, you could combine the fraction as they have the same denominator. this would give you
and you can now see that the terms can easily be added