How do you simplify # a/(r+a) - a/(r-a)#?
2 Answers
Explanation:
#"before we can subtract the fractions we require them to"#
#"have a "color(blue)"common denominator"#
#"multiply numerator/denominator of " a/(r+a)" by "(r-a)#
#"multiply numerator/denominator of "a/(r-a)" by "(r+a)#
#rArr(a(r-a))/((r+a)(r-a))-(a(r+a))/((r+a)(r-a))#
#"we now have a common denominator so can subtract"#
#"the numerators leaving the denominator"#
#=(cancel(ar)-a^2cancel(-ar)-a^2)/((r+a)(r-a))#
#=-(2a^2)/((r+a)(r-a))to(r!=+-a)#
See a solution process below:
Explanation:
First, we will put the fractions over common denominators by multiplying each fraction by the appropriate form of
We can now subtract the numerators over the common denominators:
However, we must look at the original expression and qualify the answer with:
Where