simplify rational exprssion: [1/(m-1) + 2/(m+2)]/[2/(m+2) - 1/(m-3)]

sean1

New member
Joined
Feb 11, 2017
Messages
18
Hello everyone,
I am hoping someone can help me with this problem. So far is I was told to follow these three steps:
1. Find the least common denominator for all fractions
2. Multiply the numerator & denominator by the LCD
3. simplify
I think I am lost on the first step, which is finding the Least Common Denominator (LCD). I am pretty sure the LCD is (m-1)(m+2)(m-3). Is this correct? If so, could someone please show me how to apply the next two steps to get the answer? Thank you so much:confused::confused::confused:

Simplify the following:

. . . . .\(\displaystyle \dfrac{\left(\dfrac{1}{m\, -\, 1}\, +\, \dfrac{2}{m\, +\, 2}\right)}{\left(\dfrac{2}{m\, +\, 2}\, -\, \dfrac{1}{m\, -\, 3}\right)}\)



Note from moderator: The above is the LaTeX coding for what had been attempted formatting by using the space-bar. A simple way to force the forum script to respect spaces is to use "code" mode, as shown below:

Code:
fractions:

   1       2
 ----- + -----
 m - 1   m + 2
===============
   2       1
 ----- - -----
 m + 2   m - 3

(Trick to make things work better in CODE mode: Do NOT leave the first character as a blank space. (That's why I put the entirely extraneous word "fractions:" in the top left: it keeps the back-end script happier. So always put something in that very first space on the very first line. I learned that the hard way....)

CODE mode won't show the formatting you intend, while you're looking in the "message" entry box. Try Preview to confirm or correct what you've done.

For further information on typing math as text, please try (here)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
So far is I was told to follow these three steps:
1. Find the least common denominator for all fractions
2. Multiply the numerator & denominator by the LCD
3. simplify
I think I am lost on the first step, which is finding the Least Common Denominator (LCD).
I am pretty sure the LCD is (m-1)(m+2)(m-3). Is this correct?
If so, could someone please show me how to apply the next two steps to get the answer?
Simplify:

1 + 2
m-1 m+2
--------------
2 - 1
m+2 m-3
Yikes! Try this:

u = m-1
v = m+2
w = m-3

(1/u + 2/v) / (2/v - 1/w)

Simplify that, then substitute back in...
 
Hello everyone,
I am hoping someone can help me with this problem. So far is I was told to follow these three steps:
1. Find the least common denominator for all fractions
2. Multiply the numerator & denominator by the LCD
3. simplify
I think I am lost on the first step, which is finding the Least Common Denominator (LCD). I am pretty sure the LCD is (m-1)(m+2)(m-3). Is this correct? If so, could someone please show me how to apply the next two steps to get the answer? Thank you so much:confused::confused::confused:

Simplify:

1 + 2
m-1 m+2
--------------
2 - 1
m+2 m-3

The standard way to do this is to multiply each term in the numerator, and each term in the denominator, by the LCD which you have correctly identified. In each term a factor of the LCD will cancel with the denominator, leaving you with just a product for each term. That is, it will no longer be a "complex fraction". Then you can "just" simplify as usual -- that is, expand each product, combine like terms, and see if there is a common factor between numerator and denominator.

Let us see your answer, and your work if it isn't too much, and we can tell you whether you did it all correctly.
 
Top