Question

Help with this complex fraction please...

(a+2/a^2+a-2) - (3a+1/a^2+2a-3)

LCM is (a-1) (a+2) (a+3) right? then i get stuck

Answer 1

so now change each fraction to have that LCD

[ (a+2)(a+3) - (3a+1)(a+2) ]/[(a-1)(a+2)(a+3)]

expand the top and collect like terms, leave the bottom alone
=(a^2 + 5a + 6 - 3a^2 - 7a - 2)/[(a-1)(a+2)(a+3)]
= (-2a^2 - 2a + 4)/[(a-1)(a+2)(a+3)]
= -2(a^2 + a - 2)/[(a-1)(a+2)(a+3)]
= -2(a+2)(a-1)/[(a-1)(a+2)(a+3)]
= -2/(a+3)

Answer 2

Thanks!