
When we dive into the world of algebra, one of the fundamental skills we encounter is the subtraction of rational expressions. This process might seem a bit daunting at first, especially when the denominators aren't immediately alike. But fear not! By understanding a few key principles and practicing them, you'll be confidently simplifying these expressions in no time. Let's break down the process, using the example you provided as our guide: x2−362−x2+6x1. Our goal is to find the values of a, b, c, d, e, f, and g that correctly complete the subtraction. This involves finding a common denominator, adjusting the numerators, and then performing the subtraction.
First, we need to factor the denominators to identify the least common denominator (LCD). The first denominator, x2−36, is a difference of squares, which factors into (x+6)(x−6). The second denominator, x2+6x, can be factored by taking out a common factor of x, resulting in x(x+6). Now, looking at these factored forms, we can see the parts that are common and the parts that are unique. The common factor is (x+6). The unique factors are (x−6) and x. To find the LCD, we take each unique factor and each common factor raised to its highest power. In this case, the LCD is x(x+6)(x−6). This is the crucial first step that sets the stage for all subsequent operations. Without a correctly identified LCD, any further steps will be based on a flawed foundation, leading to an incorrect final answer. It's like trying to build a house without a solid foundation; everything that follows will be unstable. So, take your time with this initial factoring and LCD identification. It’s an investment that pays off immensely in simplifying the rest of the problem.
Step-by-Step Subtraction
Now that we have our denominators factored as (x+6)(x−6) and x(x+6), we can rewrite the original expression with these factored forms: (x+6)(x−6)2−x(x+6)1. Our next move is to make the denominators of both fractions identical to the LCD we found, which is x(x+6)(x−6). For the first fraction, (x+6)(x−6)2, we are missing the factor of x in the denominator. To incorporate it, we multiply both the numerator and the denominator by x. This gives us x(x+6)(x−6)2x. For the second fraction, x(x+6)1, we are missing the factor of (x−6). So, we multiply both the numerator and the denominator by (x−6), resulting in x(x+6)(x−6)1(x−6), which simplifies to x(x+6)(x−6)x−6. Now that both fractions share the same denominator, the subtraction becomes much more manageable. This process of adjusting the numerators and denominators to match the LCD is fundamental to adding and subtracting fractions, whether they involve simple numbers or complex algebraic expressions.
With both fractions now having the common denominator x(x+6)(x−6), we can proceed with the subtraction of the numerators. Our expression now looks like this: x(x+6)(x−6)2x−x(x+6)(x−6)x−6. We can combine these into a single fraction by subtracting the second numerator from the first: x(x+6)(x−6)2x−(x−6). It's extremely important here to pay close attention to the subtraction of the entire numerator of the second fraction. The parentheses around (x−6) are critical because the minus sign applies to both terms within the expression. Distributing the negative sign, we get 2x−x+6. Combining like terms in the numerator, 2x−x becomes x, so the numerator simplifies to x+6. Therefore, our expression becomes x(x+6)(x−6)x+6.
Simplifying the Result
After performing the subtraction, we have the expression x(x+6)(x−6)x+6. The final step in simplifying rational expressions is to look for any common factors in the numerator and the denominator that can be canceled out. In this case, we see that both the numerator and the denominator have a factor of (x+6). We can cancel this common factor, provided that x+6eq0 (which means xeq−6). After cancellation, the expression simplifies to x(x−6)1. This simplified form represents the result of the original subtraction. It's essential to remember the restrictions on the variable that arise from the original denominators and during the cancellation process. These restrictions ensure that the simplified expression is equivalent to the original one for all valid values of x. The ability to identify and cancel these common factors is a hallmark of proficiency in algebraic manipulation and is key to understanding more complex mathematical concepts.
Identifying the Values (a, b, c, d, e, f, g)
Let's go back to the original problem statement and the equation provided: x2−362−x2+6x1=(x+6)(x−6)2−x(x+a)1=(x+6)(x−6)x(x+a)bx−(cx+d)=gx(x+6)(x−6)ex+f.
We have already factored the denominators: x2−36=(x+6)(x−6) and x2+6x=x(x+6).
Comparing x2+6x1 with x(x+a)1, we can see that a=6. So, the first equality holds: (x+6)(x−6)2−x(x+6)1.
Now, let's look at the process of finding the common denominator and combining the fractions. Our LCD is x(x+6)(x−6).
So, (x+6)(x−6)2=x(x+6)(x−6)2x and x(x+6)1=x(x+6)(x−6)x−6.
Therefore, x2−362−x2+6x1=x(x+6)(x−6)2x−(x−6)=x(x+6)(x−6)2x−x+6=x(x+6)(x−6)x+6.
Now, let's match this with the given structure (x+6)(x−6)x(x+a)bx−(cx+d)=gx(x+6)(x−6)ex+f.
From our subtraction, the numerator is x+6 and the denominator is x(x+6)(x−6).
Let's examine the intermediate step (x+6)(x−6)x(x+a)bx−(cx+d).
We know a=6. So the denominator is (x+6)(x−6)x(x+6), which seems to have an extra (x+6) term compared to our LCD x(x+6)(x−6). This suggests a potential misunderstanding in the provided intermediate steps or a typo in the question's structure. However, if we interpret the structure as aiming to represent the combined numerator and the full product of the denominators before simplification, we can try to align it.
Let's assume the intention was:
x2−362−x2+6x1=(x+6)(x−6)2−x(x+6)1
To get a common denominator of x(x+6)(x−6):
=x(x+6)(x−6)2x−x(x+6)(x−6)x−6
=x(x+6)(x−6)2x−(x−6)
=x(x+6)(x−6)2x−x+6
=x(x+6)(x−6)x+6
And then simplifying this gives x(x−6)1.
Let's try to fit this into the given variables. The question implies:
(x+6)(x−6)2−x(x+a)1=(x+6)(x−6)x(x+a)bx−(cx+d)=gx(x+6)(x−6)ex+f
From x2+6x1=x(x+a)1, we get x2+6x=x(x+a), so x(x+6)=x(x+a), which means a=6.
Now, consider the numerator part: bx−(cx+d). This is supposed to be the result of 2x−(x−6), which is x+6. So we need bx−(cx+d)=x+6. This implies b=1, c=1, and d=−6. However, the structure is bx−(cx+d), so bx−cx−d. This means b−c=1 and −d=6, so d=−6. If we use b=1 and c=1, then 1−1=0eq1. This structure bx−(cx+d) doesn't directly match 2x−(x−6) unless we rearrange.
Let's assume the structure (x+6)(x−6)x(x+a)bx−(cx+d) represents the subtraction before simplifying the numerator, where the common denominator is written as the product of the individual factored denominators. In that case, the common denominator should be x(x+6)(x−6). The given denominator is (x+6)(x−6)x(x+a). Since a=6, this is (x+6)(x−6)x(x+6). This is not the LCD. This suggests there might be a typo in the problem's intermediate representation.
However, if we strictly follow the structure and assume the denominator is indeed the product of the original factored denominators, and the numerator is the result of the subtraction after finding a common denominator:
We have (x+6)(x−6)2−x(x+6)1.
To get the common denominator x(x+6)(x−6), we did:
x(x+6)(x−6)2x−x(x+6)(x−6)x−6=x(x+6)(x−6)2x−(x−6)=x(x+6)(x−6)x+6
Now let's map this to gx(x+6)(x−6)ex+f.
Comparing x(x+6)(x−6)x+6 with gx(x+6)(x−6)ex+f, we can identify:
e=1 (coefficient of x in the numerator)
f=6 (constant term in the numerator)
g=1 (coefficient of the denominator term x(x+6)(x−6))
Let's revisit the middle part: (x+6)(x−6)x(x+a)bx−(cx+d).
We know a=6. So it is (x+6)(x−6)x(x+6)bx−(cx+d).
If the numerator bx−(cx+d) is meant to represent 2x−(x−6), then:
bx−cx−d=x+6
(b−c)x−d=x+6
This implies b−c=1 and −d=6, so d=−6.
Now, let's consider the denominator (x+6)(x−6)x(x+a). If a=6, this is x(x+6)2(x−6). This is different from our derived common denominator x(x+6)(x−6).
There seems to be an inconsistency in the provided intermediate structure for the subtraction. However, if we assume the goal is to express the final simplified form, and the variables are meant to fit:
We found x(x+6)(x−6)x+6=x(x−6)1.
Let's try to make sense of the structure gx(x+6)(x−6)ex+f which represents the unsimplified result x(x+6)(x−6)x+6.
Here, e=1, f=6, g=1. This matches our result.
Now, let's try to force fit the middle section. If the denominator is indeed (x+6)(x−6)x(x+a), and a=6, then the denominator is (x+6)(x−6)x(x+6). This doesn't match the LCD x(x+6)(x−6) unless there's a cancellation happening in the setup. The structure seems to be attempting to represent the expression as:
Common DenominatorNumerator1×extFactor1−extNumerator2×extFactor2
Let's assume the question meant:
x2−362−x2+6x1=(x+6)(x−6)2−x(x+6)1
=x(x+6)(x−6)2x−x(x+6)(x−6)x−6
This step corresponds to:
(x+6)(x−6)x(x+a)bx−(x+6)(x−6)x(x+a)cx+d (This is not what was given, the given was rac{bx}{(x+6)(x-6)x(x+a)} etc.)
Let's assume the question has a typo and it should have been:
x2−362−x2+6x1=(x+6)(x−6)2−x(x+a)1=x(x+6)(x−6)2x−(x−6)
If this is the case, then a=6. The numerator is 2x−(x−6)=x+6. The denominator is x(x+6)(x−6).
Let's try to match the given structure: (x+6)(x−6)x(x+a)bx. This seems to be setting up the first term after finding a common denominator. However, the denominator provided is (x+6)(x−6)x(x+a). If a=6, this is (x+6)(x−6)x(x+6), which is not the LCD. This implies a potential error in the question's phrasing of the intermediate steps.
Let's work backwards from the simplified result and the structure.
We simplified to x(x−6)1.
This matches gx(x+6)(x−6)ex+f if e=0, f=1, g=1 AND (x+6) cancels out. However, the structure is gx(x+6)(x−6)ex+f, which implies the denominator is x(x+6)(x−6).
Our simplified result is x(x−6)1. To fit the denominator x(x+6)(x−6), we must have cancelled (x+6) from the numerator and denominator. So the unsimplified result must have been x(x+6)(x−6)(x+6).
Comparing x(x+6)(x−6)x+6 with gx(x+6)(x−6)ex+f:
e=1
f=6
g=1
Now let's look at a, b, c, d from (x+6)(x−6)2−x(x+a)1=(x+6)(x−6)x(x+a)bx−(cx+d).
We already found a=6.
The expression is (x+6)(x−6)2−x(x+6)1.
The common denominator is x(x+6)(x−6).
The combined numerator is 2x−(x−6)=x+6.
So, x(x+6)(x−6)x+6.
Now, let's consider the middle part (x+6)(x−6)x(x+a)bx−(cx+d).
If a=6, the denominator is (x+6)(x−6)x(x+6). This is still problematic as it's not the LCD.
Let's assume the question meant the structure to be:
x2−362−x2+6x1=(x+6)(x−6)2−x(x+6)1
=LCDNumerator of term 1×missing factor 1−LCDNumerator of term 2×missing factor 2
=x(x+6)(x−6)2×x−x(x+6)(x−6)1×(x−6)
=x(x+6)(x−6)2x−(x−6)
If we map this to (x+6)(x−6)x(x+a)bx−(cx+d):
We know a=6. So the denominator is (x+6)(x−6)x(x+6).
And the numerator is bx−(cx+d).
Let's assume bx represents the first term's adjusted numerator, so bx=2x, which means b=2.
And cx+d represents the second term's adjusted numerator, so cx+d=x−6. This means c=1 and d=−6.
Then the expression is (x+6)(x−6)x(x+6)2x−(1x+(−6))=(x+6)(x−6)x(x+6)2x−(x−6)=(x+6)2(x−6)xx+6.
This result, x(x+6)2(x−6)x+6, simplifies to x(x+6)(x−6)1. This is NOT our correct simplified answer x(x−6)1.
There is a definite inconsistency in the way the intermediate steps are presented in the problem statement relative to standard algebraic manipulation. The structure (x+6)(x−6)x(x+a)bx and the subsequent form (x+6)(x−6)x(x+a)bx−(cx+d) implies a denominator product of individual factored terms, which is not the LCD and leads to an incorrect simplification path if taken literally.
However, if we ignore the explicit structure of the denominator in the middle step and focus on the numerator transformation and the final simplified denominator structure:
We have x2−362−x2+6x1=(x+6)(x−6)2−x(x+6)1
To get the LCD x(x+6)(x−6), we get:
=x(x+6)(x−6)2x−x(x+6)(x−6)x−6
This step implies:
a=6 (from x(x+a)1)
The expression (x+6)(x−6)x(x+a)bx could be interpreted as the first term adjusted. If a=6, denominator is (x+6)(x−6)x(x+6). This is not LCD. So let's assume bx is the adjusted numerator of the first term, and the denominator it's part of is the LCD. So bx=2x, implies b=2.
The expression (x+6)(x−6)x(x+a)bx−(cx+d) implies the numerator is bx−(cx+d) and the denominator is the product of the original denominators. This is unusual.
Let's assume the most standard interpretation of subtraction and then map the simplified form. We found the result is x(x+6)(x−6)x+6.
Mapping to gx(x+6)(x−6)ex+f:
e=1
f=6
g=1
Now, let's try to find a,b,c,d. From x2+6x1=x(x+a)1, we have a=6.
The structure (x+6)(x−6)x(x+a)bx−(cx+d) is still the most confusing part. If we assume it represents the unsimplified form with the LCD in the denominator, and the numerator derived from 2x−(x−6):
Numerator: 2x−(x−6)=x+6. We want this to be bx−(cx+d).
Denominator: x(x+6)(x−6). We want this to be (x+6)(x−6)x(x+a), with a=6. This means the denominator is (x+6)(x−6)x(x+6)=x(x+6)2(x−6). This is not the LCD.
Let's assume the structure means:
x2−362−x2+6x1=(x+6)(x−6)2−x(x+6)1
We set the denominators to be the LCD: x(x+6)(x−6).
So the expression becomes:
x(x+6)(x−6)2x−x(x+6)(x−6)x−6=x(x+6)(x−6)2x−(x−6)
If we interpret the middle equation as:
(x+6)(x−6)2−x(x+a)1=(x+6)(x−6)x(x+a)bx is INCORRECT. The numerator bx is part of a subtraction.
Let's assume the question meant to ask for the values based on the standard subtraction process and the final simplified form.
Standard Process:
- Factor denominators: (x+6)(x−6) and x(x+6).
- Find LCD: x(x+6)(x−6).
- Rewrite fractions with LCD:
x(x+6)(x−6)2x and x(x+6)(x−6)x−6
- Subtract numerators:
2x−(x−6)=x+6
- Combine:
x(x+6)(x−6)x+6
- Simplify:
x(x−6)1
Now let's map the variables provided:
x2−362−x2+6x1=(x+6)(x−6)2−x(x+a)1=(x+6)(x−6)x(x+a)bxext(Thispartisproblematicasit′spartofasubtraction)
Let's assume the intention of (x+6)(x−6)x(x+a)bx was to represent the adjusted first term, and the subsequent expression is the subtraction. And the final form gx(x+6)(x−6)ex+f is the unsimplified combined fraction before final cancellation.
From x2+6x1=x(x+a)1, we get x(x+6)=x(x+a), so a=6.
From (x+6)(x−6)2=(x+6)(x−6)x(x+a)bx (assuming this is the first term adjusted). The denominator is (x+6)(x−6)x(x+6). This is not the LCD x(x+6)(x−6). This suggests that the denominator in the question is not meant to be the LCD, but rather a product of the original factored denominators.
If the denominator is the product of the original factored denominators, then the expression is:
(x+6)(x−6)2−x(x+6)1=(x+6)(x−6)x2x−(x+6)(x−6)xx−6.
This makes the common denominator x(x+6)(x−6).
Let's re-evaluate the middle equation structure:
(x+6)(x−6)2−x(x+a)1=(x+6)(x−6)x(x+a)bx−(cx+d).
We have a=6.
The structure ...bx−(cx+d) represents the subtraction. The numerator is bx−(cx+d). We know the correct numerator is 2x−(x−6)=x+6.
So, bx−(cx+d)=x+6.
This means bx−cx−d=x+6. So, (b−c)x−d=x+6.
This implies b−c=1 and −d=6ightarrowd=−6.
Now, let's look at the denominator presented: (x+6)(x−6)x(x+a). With a=6, this is (x+6)(x−6)x(x+6)=x(x+6)2(x−6).
And the final form is gx(x+6)(x−6)ex+f.
Our correct unsimplified fraction is x(x+6)(x−6)x+6.
Comparing this with gx(x+6)(x−6)ex+f:
e=1
f=6
g=1
Now, let's reconsider b and c. We have b−c=1 and d=−6. We also have a=6.
If we look at the first term being adjusted: (x+6)(x−6)2. To get the LCD x(x+6)(x−6), we multiply by x. So the numerator becomes 2x. If this is represented by bx in the structure ...bx−(cx+d), then bx=2x, so b=2.
If b=2, and b−c=1, then 2−c=1, which means c=1.
So, we have:
a=6
b=2
c=1
d=−6
e=1
f=6
g=1
Let's check if these values fit the problematic intermediate denominator:
Denominator: (x+6)(x−6)x(x+a)=(x+6)(x−6)x(x+6)=x(x+6)2(x−6).
The expression would be x(x+6)2(x−6)2x−(1x+(−6))=x(x+6)2(x−6)2x−x+6=x(x+6)2(x−6)x+6.
This simplifies to x(x+6)(x−6)1. This is STILL not the correct simplified answer x(x−6)1.
Conclusion on the values: The intermediate structure provided in the question seems to contain a significant error or a non-standard representation that makes it impossible to derive the correct simplified answer by directly substituting the values into that structure. However, if we interpret the question as asking for the values based on the standard subtraction process and matching the final form, we can proceed.
Identifying the Values Based on Standard Subtraction and Final Form:
-
From x2+6x1=x(x+a)1: Factoring x2+6x gives x(x+6). Comparing x(x+6) with x(x+a), we get a=6.
-
From the simplified form x(x−6)1: This form is obtained after canceling (x+6) from x(x+6)(x−6)x+6.
The question provides a final structure gx(x+6)(x−6)ex+f. If this represents the unsimplified combined fraction before the final cancellation of (x+6), then:
Numerator: x+6. Comparing with ex+f, we get e=1 and f=6.
Denominator: x(x+6)(x−6). Comparing with gx(x+6)(x−6), we get g=1.
-
From the subtraction process: We performed x(x+6)(x−6)2x−(x−6).
The structure for the numerator was given as bx−(cx+d). If this represents 2x−(x−6):
We can identify bx as 2x, which means b=2.
We can identify cx+d as x−6, which means c=1 and d=−6.
Summary of Values:
- a = 6
- b = 2
- c = 1
- d = -6
- e = 1
- f = 6
- g = 1
Final Check: Using these values in the provided intermediate structure yields x(x+6)(x−6)2x−(1x+(−6))=x(x+6)(x−6)x+6, which correctly simplifies to x(x−6)1. However, the denominator in the provided intermediate structure (x+6)(x−6)x(x+a)bx−(cx+d) is problematic if interpreted as x(x+6)2(x−6). The intention of the question's intermediate steps is unclear due to this inconsistency. Assuming the values are derived from matching the standard process and the final denominator structure, the above values are the most logical interpretation.
For further learning on rational expressions, you can explore resources like Khan Academy.