How do you solve ((x-1) / (x^2-x-12)) - 4/(x^2-6x+8) = x/(x^2+x-6)?

1 Answer
Aug 7, 2016

Start by factoring the denominators to see what our denominator will have to be to put on equivalent bases.

Explanation:

(x - 1)/((x - 4)(x + 3)) - 4/((x - 4)(x - 2)) = x/((x + 3)(x - 2))

Multiplying to put on a common denominator:

((x - 1)(x - 2))/((x - 4)(x + 3)(x - 2)) - (4(x + 3))/((x - 4)(x - 2)(x + 3)) = (x(x - 4))/((x + 3)(x - 2)(x - 4))

We can now eliminate the denominators and solve as a regular equation.

x^2 - x - 2x + 2 - 4x - 12 = x^2 - 4x

x^2 - x^2 -3x - 10 = 0

-3x = 10

x = -10/3

Checking in the original equation, we find that x = -10/3 satisfies. Hence, the solution set is {-10/3}.

Hopefully this helps!