Math help......help me simplify this expression into a single fraction?

Question

I need to obtain a single fraction, here is the expression:

[1 / (x + h)] - 1/x

I dont need the answer, but how to start this problem. Thank You.

Answer 1

You need a common denominator.

The denominator is (x+h)(x) <---- x+h and x are as different as 7 and 9, you have to multiply them together to get a common denominator.

Hope this is all you need.

Answer 2

Get a common denominator. Right now you have one fraction with a denominator of x+h and another fraction with a denominator of just x. You can't add or subtract fractions unless they have the same denominator. So change each fraction so the both have the common denominator of x(x+h).

Then you r problem looks like this:
x/(x(x+h)) - (x+h)/(x(x+h))
Now the subtraction is easily accomplished.

Answer 3

You start the same as any fraction problem, look for the LCD. You have denominators of (x-3)^2, (x+1) and (2x-1), so your LCD will be (x-3)^2*(x-1)*(2x-1). BTW, the (2x-1) term refers to the third fraction. You can switch the sign on the total fraction to positive which allows you to switch signs in the denominator.

Answer 4

[1/(x+h)] - 1/x
you have to find a common denominator, which is (x+h)x
so you need to multiply the first fraction by x/x, and the second by (x+h)/(x+h)

Answer 5

dan, the fraction is this 1 over (x+h) MINUS 1 over x, they cross multiply and solve, hope that helps...

Answer 6

[1 / (x + h)] - 1/x

multiple the first group by (x)/(x) & the second group by ((x+H)/(X+H)) to get common denominators

[1 / (x + h)] *(x/x)- 1/x*(x+h)/(x+h)

x/((x+h)*x)+(x+h)/((x+h)*x))

add them together

(x+x+h)/((x+h)*x) = (2x+h)/((x+h)*x)

Answer 7

common denominators, just like 6th grade:

....1...........1
---------- - ----- =
(x+h) ........x

.....x..........x+h
---------- - --------- =
(x+h)x ......x(x+h)

.. -h
--------
x(x+h)