Add or subtract, as indicated. See Example 4.

1 b
—— + ——
a a²

Question

Add or subtract, as indicated. See Example 4.

1 b
—— + ——
 a a²

Accepted Answer

Welcome back, everyone. We want to perform the indicated operations on the rational expression. Three divided by U plus two V divided by U squared. For our answer choices A is six U plus V all divided by U squared. B is three, U plus two V all divided by U squared. C is U plus VV, all divided by six U squared and D is U minus six V all divided by two U squared. Now, what are we going to do here? Well, we're working with two algebraic fractions. OK. And even though they are algebraic, the same ideas for fractions apply that is to simplify all we need to do is to find a common multiple for both denominators and rewrite the fractions with that common multi multiple. So let's think what's the lowest common multiple of U and U squared? Well, you can go into both terms. U goes into U and U goes into U squared. So our LCM would have been U squared. So now all we need to do is to rewrite our fraction with a common denominator of us squared. Now U goes into U squared U times. So I'm going to multiply our numerator of three divided by U by U and three multiplied by U is three U U squared is the denominator of the second fraction already. So we can just write back two V. Now, let's think about it. Look at our fraction. Are there any more common factors that we can get from our numerator denominator? Well, three U and two V don't have anything in common. So this looks like our answer is in its simplest form. So our final answer would have been three U plus two V all divided by U squared. And when we look on our answer choices that would have been answer choice. B thanks a lot for watching everyone. I hope this video helped.

Add or subtract, as indicated. See Example 4. 1 b —— + —— a a²

Key Concepts

Common Denominator

Fraction Addition/Subtraction

Simplification of Fractions

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