How do you find the excluded value of 3/(x-5)?

1 Answer
Jan 20, 2017

I got x=5

Explanation:

You need to consider the value of x that makes your fraction impossible to be evaluated; the only option is when x=5. This is because you would get 1/0 that you cannot evaluate!
So, when you have a fraction with unknown in it (in the denominator) always set the denominator equal to zero, solve it as a normal equation and exclude the value(s) of the unknown you find.
For example, in your case:
1) take the denominator: x-5;
2) set it equal to zero: x-5=0;
3) solve the equation: x=5;
Now you can exclude the result, x=5, from the set of values you can use into your fraction.