a-a^4
-----------
a^2+a+1
I'm not so worried about the answer as much as I am the steps you take to get there...
2007-02-15 22:30:34 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
O O do you multiply by -1 and then take an "a" out of the top, leaving you with the difference of cubes, and then factor out the bottom?
2007-02-15 22:35:26 · update #1
I already have the answer geniuses--I just want to know how to work the problem.
the answer is a(1-a)
I've known that since the beginning--i just don't know how to work the problem!
And no, the textbook has nothing to say, because there IS NO text book.
Wow you people are intelligent....
2007-02-15 22:47:20 · update #2
Who cares will it ever be of any use to you in the real world?
2007-02-15 22:42:25 · answer #1 · answered by minihitler 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Factor the numerator and factor the denominator, at least partially for starters. a will be a factor of each one. So you can cancel it out. What's left over will be (1-a^3)/(a+1). a+1 is not a factor of the numerator, so if your problem was "simplify this fraction", that's your answer.
2007-02-15 22:36:03 · answer #2 · answered by Curt Monash 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
turn off the computer and do your own god damned homework. It's in the textbook!
2007-02-15 22:41:37 · answer #3 · answered by hoohoonick 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Silly girl, stop doing math and get back in the kitchen and make me some PI!
LOL MATH JOKE
2007-02-15 22:38:53 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
The way you have put it it's not a problem.
a-a^4......=a(1-a^3)..= a^2+a+1... a^2+a^4+1.
----------- = -----------= ----------- - --------------- etc
a^2+a+1.=a^2+a+1.= a^2+a+1....a^2+a+1....
2007-02-15 23:03:26 · answer #5 · answered by supersonic332003 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
(-a)(a^3-1)
-------------
a^2+a+1
(-a)(a-1)(a^2+a+1)
------------------------
a^2+a+1
so the answer is (-a)(a-1)= -a^2+a
2007-02-15 23:14:55 · answer #6 · answered by hil_gs 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋