How do you simplify #x/(x-8) - 2/(x+7)#?

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Answer 1 · 2018-05-15T15:05:52

#[x^2+5x+16]/[x^2-x-56]#

#x/(x-8) - 2/(x+7)#

Cross multiply to get a common denominator

#[x(x+7)-2(x-8)]/{(x-8)(x+7)]#

#[x^2+7x-2x+16]/[x^2+7x-8x-56]#

#[x^2+5x+16]/[x^2-x-56]#

Answer 2 · 2018-05-15T15:14:52

#color(brown)(x^2 + 5x + 16 = 0#

#x / (x - 8) = 2 / (x + 7)#

#x *(x + 7) = 2*(x - 8)#, cross multiplying

#x^2 + 7x = 2x - 16#, removing braces

#x^2 + 7x -2x + 16 = 0#

#x^2 + 5x + 16 = 0#