fractions: What do you do when its (1/x) / 2-(1/x)

[jt4life]

Could someone help me please? I'm having trouble with fractions....

What do you do when its (1/x) / 2-(1/x)

i know its sumthing to do with a recipricol but the 2 is confusing me

 

[Loren]

(1/x) / 2-(1/x)

Possible first step...

(1/x) /( (2x-1)/x) or

\(\displaystyle \frac{\frac{1}{x}}{\frac{2x-1}{x}}\)

 

[stapel]

What do you do when its (1/x) / 2-(1/x)

What is the "it" that the given expression "is"? What do you mean by "is"? ("Equals"? Or something else?) What are the instructions for the exercise? What are you supposed to be doing with "it"? What have you tried? How far have you gotten?

Please be complete. Thank you!

Eliz.

 

[skeeter]

try multiplying both the numerator and denominator by x ...

 

[jwpaine]

\(\displaystyle \L \frac{\frac{1}{x}} { 2 - \frac{1}{x}}\)

= \(\displaystyle \L \frac{(\frac{1}{x})} { (\frac{2x - 1}{x})}\)

= \(\displaystyle \L (\frac{1}{x}) \cdot (\frac{x}{2x - 1})\)

= \(\displaystyle \L ...\)