Question

@mathmate

Answer 1

\[\frac{ 5 }{ x+2 } -\frac{ 7 }{ x-4 }\]

Answer 2

Step 1: find the common denominator, can you do that?

Answer 3

2?

Answer 4

We do not look at just numbers.
In the given expression, (x+2) is a factor, and (x-4) is a factor.
Just like 5/7+3/11, the common denominator is 7*11=77.
So the common denominator is (x+2)(x-4), since there is no common factor between the two factors.

Answer 5

Oh. but do can we reduce (x+2)(x-4)?

Answer 6

so
\(\Large \frac{ 5 }{ x+2 } -\frac{ 7 }{ x-4 }=\frac{ 5*(?)-7*(?) }{ (x+2)(x-4) }\)
Fill in the spaces and simplify to get the answer.

Answer 7

So i put 2 in there? @mathmate

Answer 8

as I mentioned earlier, the x and the 2 cannot be separated.
I'll show you an example.
\(\Large \frac{ 2 }{ x+4 } -\frac{ 5 }{ x-3 }=\frac{ 2*(x-3)-5*(x+4) }{ (x+2)(x-4) }=\frac{ 2x-6-(5x+20) }{ (x+2)(x-4) }=\frac{ -3x-26 }{ (x+2)(x-4) }\)

Answer 9

Oh i think i got it.
\(\Large \frac{ 5*(x-4)-7*(x+2) }{ (x+2)(x-4) }\)

Answer 10

Exactly! Well done. So please finish it!

Answer 11

\(\Large \frac{ 5*x-20-7*x+14) }{ (x+2)(x-4 }\)

Answer 12

Distribute! Distribute! Distribute!
-7*(x+2)=???

Answer 13

−7x−14

Answer 14

Exactly! So please go on!

Answer 15

Oh so now i solve 5* (x+2)=5x+10

Answer 16

Good! Keep going!

Answer 17

Ughh, where do i go?

Answer 18

So far you have
\(\Large \frac{ 5*(x-4)-7(x+2) }{ (x+2)(x-4) }\)
which reduces to
\(\Large \frac{ 5x-20-7x-14 }{ (x+2)(x-4) }\)
So you need to simplify the numerator and that's it!

Answer 19

Oh so finnish this?
\(\Large \frac{ 5x-20-7x-14 }{ (x+2)(x-4) }\)

Answer 20

YAAASSS I GOT YES! I got \[\frac{ -2x-34 }{ x^2 -2x-8 }\]

Answer 21

Exactly, by George you've got it! :)

Answer 22

lol george?

Thanks man

Answer 23

That's a quote from an ancient musical.

Answer 24

You're welcome!

Answer 25

Oh.
But still thank you, that makes sence now

Answer 26

Good, and you're welcome!