Need help simplifying.

A

abigal09

New member
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Sep 22, 2009
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24
Directions- Simplify:

Problem:
2x+1/3+3x-1/5-1/10

My work:
10x+5/15+9x-3/15-1/10

My Answer:
19x+2/15-1/10

Is this right?
I cannot subtract 1/10 because there is no x in the numerator, right?
 
Good work! So to include the - 1/10 : 2/15 - 1/10 = 4/30 - 3/30 = 1/30 ; agree?

2x+1/3 + 3x-1/5 - 1/10

So we now have 5x + 1/30 ; agree?

Can you finish it?
 
I'm not sure I understand what you're doing.

I can solve the problem, I just need to know if I
can subtract the 1/10 because there is no x in the numerator.
 
abigal09 said:
The problem is:
2x+1/3 + 3x-1/5 - 1/10
Click to expand...
BUT then the problem is NOT what you show;
the problem is (2x+1)/3 + (3x-1)/5 - 1/10

You're wasting a lot of time by not bracketing properly.

IF YOU show 2x+1/3, then the x is NOT in the numerator;
IF YOU show (2x+1)/3, then the x IS in the numerator.
Hope that's clear.
 
I never post fractions on the internet, so I was not aware.

(2x+1)/3 + (3x-1/5) - 1/10

Now can I get help with my actual question?
 
abigal09 said:
I never post fractions on the internet, so I was not aware.

(2x+1)/3 + (3x-1/5) - 1/10

Now can I get help with my actual question?
Click to expand...
You mean: (2x+1)/3 + (3x-1)/5 - 1/10 ... just a typo, right?

Your LCD is 30, right?
So change the 3 terms so they all have 30 as divisor.
 
No, I know how to solve the problem.

I just need to know if I can subtract 1/10 because
x is not in the numerator.
 
abigal09 said:
… I know how to solve the problem. I just need to know if I can subtract 1/10 …
Click to expand...


No, you cannot.

If you "know" how to do the problem, then you should "know" that you no longer have 1/10.

You're subtracting 3/30, instead.

Also, you should "know" that the actual subtraction takes place in the numerator, so the actual subtraction will be minus 3.

I'm not confident that you know how to solve the exercise.

Show us what you got after getting a common denominator of 30 on each ratio.

BTW: The simplified result is a single ratio.

 
Here is my work:

(2x+1)/3 + (3x-1)/5 - 1/10

(20x+10)/30 + (18x-6)/30 - 3/30

(38x+4)/30 - 3/30
 
abigal09 said:
Wait, I think I can simplify more:
(38x+4)/30 - 3/30
(38x+1)/30
Click to expand...
Yepper; GOOD WORK :!:

Now can you see why you were confusing everybody with "no x in the numerator"?
And do you understand the NEED for bracketing?
 
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