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by **shadmitch** on Sat Sep 22, 2012 1:54 pm

I have had so much trouble with this rational equation. I need to solve it. The answer is 6.

x/(x-2) - 1/(x+2) = 1

Thanks very much!

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by **Matt** on Sun Sep 23, 2012 1:36 am

Multiply each term by (x-2)(x+2).
Cancel factors which the numerator and denominator have in common:

$\frac{x}{x-2}-\frac{1}{x+2}=1$

$\frac{x}{x-2}\times\frac{(x-2)(x+2)}{1}-\frac{1}{x+2}\times\frac{(x-2)(x+2)}{1}=1\times\frac{(x-2)(x+2)}{1}$

$x(x+2)-(x-2)=(x-2)(x+2)$

The rest is history:

$x^2+2x-x+2=x^2-4$

$x+2=-4$

$x=-6$

by **shadmitch** on Wed Sep 26, 2012 1:57 am

Thank you very much!

The Purplemath Forums

Can you explain how to do this?

Can you explain how to do this?

Re: Can you explain how to do this?

Re: Can you explain how to do this?