CheeseMonkey
New member
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2010
- Messages
- 1
Hello everyone,
I am having a hard time understanding a concept relating to "Exponents and Roots".
I am using a book called "Algebra Demystified" to help better acquaint myself with some math skills, and up until the current chapter, I was having no problem. Unfortunately, I hit this one part of the chapter where I am just absolutely stumped. I have no idea what is going on and I really need some help figuring out this concept.
This concept is called "Adding/Subrtracing Fractions in the Exponents and Roots" chapter. The book reads as follows:
"When adding fractions with variables in one or more denominators, the LCD will have each variable (or algebraic expression) to its highest power as a factor. For example, the LCD for 1/x2 + 1/x + 1/yx + 1/y2 is x2y3."
Example: 4/x2 - 3/x = 4/x2 - 3/x . x/x = 4/x2 - 3x/x2 = 4-3x/x2
(Just FYI: I use the "/" symbol as a fraction line because I don't know another one to represent fractions in this font, sorry.)
That's where the book stops. Afterwards, it gives me a few practice problems. The first few I basically understand. I just used the good old "what you do to one side, you must do to the other" concept, and it worked for awhile. Then i was hit with problems with more than two fractions being added/subtracted and I got lost.
Basically, I need one of you all to better explain this concept to me and help me understand exactly what they're telling me to do. I really appreciate any feedback you guys can give me because this is really frustrating and I can't move on until I get this under my belt.
Thank you.
I am having a hard time understanding a concept relating to "Exponents and Roots".
I am using a book called "Algebra Demystified" to help better acquaint myself with some math skills, and up until the current chapter, I was having no problem. Unfortunately, I hit this one part of the chapter where I am just absolutely stumped. I have no idea what is going on and I really need some help figuring out this concept.
This concept is called "Adding/Subrtracing Fractions in the Exponents and Roots" chapter. The book reads as follows:
"When adding fractions with variables in one or more denominators, the LCD will have each variable (or algebraic expression) to its highest power as a factor. For example, the LCD for 1/x2 + 1/x + 1/yx + 1/y2 is x2y3."
Example: 4/x2 - 3/x = 4/x2 - 3/x . x/x = 4/x2 - 3x/x2 = 4-3x/x2
(Just FYI: I use the "/" symbol as a fraction line because I don't know another one to represent fractions in this font, sorry.)
That's where the book stops. Afterwards, it gives me a few practice problems. The first few I basically understand. I just used the good old "what you do to one side, you must do to the other" concept, and it worked for awhile. Then i was hit with problems with more than two fractions being added/subtracted and I got lost.
Basically, I need one of you all to better explain this concept to me and help me understand exactly what they're telling me to do. I really appreciate any feedback you guys can give me because this is really frustrating and I can't move on until I get this under my belt.
Thank you.
