How do you simplify 3/(x+2) + 6/(x-1)?

1 Answer
Oct 9, 2015

By finding the Lowest Common Multiple (LCM)

Ans: (9x+9)/((x+2)(x-1))

Explanation:

3/(x+2)+6/(x-1)

Compare the denominators of 3 and 6.

Notice that the denominator of 3 lacks x-1, while the denominator of 6 lacks x+2.

Therefore, multiply 3 by x-1, and multiply 6 by x+2. Their sum will make up the numerator of your final expression.

To obtain the denominator of your final expression, multiply x+2 by x-1.

(3(x-1)+6(x+2))/((x+2)*(x-1))

(3x-3+6x+12)/((x+2)(x-1))

(9x+9)/((x+2)(x-1))

The numerator and the denominator don't contain any common numbers that could be canceled out, so the expression can't be further simplified and this will be your final answer