First time using open study. I have a quick question. When adding rational expressions are you allowed to cancel out a expression in the denominator.

Question

anonymous · Answer

Notice in the bottom how paula cancels out the equation. I have to point out what she did wrong. I think that is what she did wrong. I think she changed the common denominator when she canceled out the expressions.

ipurple · Answer

Hello Jackson. Okay, you are allowed to cancel out expressions. But I only know it is possible. However, I have never canceled out.

perl · Answer

that is not a valid step

anonymous · Answer

How would I go about answering this question. I know the answer of the equation. But I can't figure out what she did wrong because I'm not sure If canceling out the equation is where she messed up.

perl · Answer

if you add the fractions and put the numerator sum over the denominator, you can see that you can't cancel

anonymous · Answer

So she messed up when she tried to flip the equation on step 5. If she flips a expression she has to make the equation a subtraction problem, correct?

anonymous · Answer

@perl