Simplify complex fractionThis is a really low level question. I'm trying to simplify f ( x ) = 36 x − 2 − 3 x − 1 − 18 12 x − 2 − 25 x − 1 + 12 After factoring, removing negative exponents, and flipping the second fraction I get f ( x ) = 1 3 ( 3 x + 2 ) ( 4 x − 3 ) ( 3 x − 4 ) ( 4 x − 3 ) 1 Then ( 4 x − 3 ) cancels leaving f ( x ) = − 3 x − 4 3 ( 3 x + 2 ) as my final answer. However the book I have says the correct answer is f ( x ) = − 3 ( 2 x + 3 ) 4 x − 3 I've checked my work many times and I don't know how they get this answer. Could someone please help me solve this?

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Simplify complex fractionThis is a really low level question. I&#039;m trying to simplify  f  (  x  )  =            36              x                  −          2                    −      3              x                  −          1                    −      18              12              x                  −          2                    −      25              x                  −          1                    +      12      After factoring, removing negative exponents, and flipping the second fraction I get  f  (  x  )  =      1          3      (      3      x      +      2      )      (      4      x      −      3      )                  (      3      x      −      4      )      (      4      x      −      3      )        1  Then   (  4  x  −  3  ) cancels leaving  f  (  x  )  =  −            3      x      −      4              3      (      3      x      +      2      )      as my final answer. However the book I have says the correct answer is  f  (  x  )  =  −            3      (      2      x      +      3      )              4      x      −      3      I&#039;ve checked my work many times and I don&#039;t know how they get this answer. Could someone please help me solve this?

crociandomh · Accepted Answer

I suggest getting rid of the negative exponents first:                                          36                          x                              −                2                                      −            3                          x                              −                1                                      −            18                                12                          x                              −                2                                      −            25                          x                              −                1                                      +            12                                      =        −                              18                          x              2                        +            3            x            −            36                                12                          x              2                        −            25            x            +            12                                                    =        −                              3            (            3            x            −            4            )            (            2            x            +            3            )                                (            3            x            −            4            )            (            4            x            −            3            )                                                    =        −                              3            (            2            x            +            3            )                                4            x            −            3                                   .

manierato5h · Accepted Answer

Your error came when you factored   36      x          −      2        −  3      x          −      1        −  18 as   (  36      x    2    −  3      x    1    −  18      )          −      1       which is not the same as   36      x          −      2        −  3      x          −      1        −  18, the correct way to solve comes when you realize that   36      x          −      2       is the same as   36      /        x    2  , seeing as this is the case you multiply the fraction by   −      x    2   and get −  18      x    2    +  3  x  −  36      /    12      x    2    −  25  x  +  12 and David&#039;s solution takes it from there.

Simplify complex fraction This is a really low level question. I'm trying to simplify f (

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