How do you combine #(x-3)/ (30x+5) - 2/ (18x+3)#?

1 Answer
May 19, 2015

First, let's have a look at the two terms of our sum:

#(x - 3) / (30 x + 5)# = #(x - 3) / (5(6 x + 1))#

#2 / (18 x + 3)# = #2 / (3(6 x + 1))#

Notice that the least common denominator is #5 * 3 * (6 x + 1) = 15(6 x + 1)#. This means that we have to multiply the first term by #3# and the second term by #5#.

This gives: #(3(x - 3) - 2 * 5) / (15(6 x + 1))# = # (3 x - 19) / (15(6 x + 1))# = # (3 x - 19) / (90 x + 15)#