Basic Math Examples

$\frac{a - 2}{a - 1} + \frac{a + 3}{a + 2} + \frac{a + 1}{a - 3}$

Step 1

To write $\frac{a - 2}{a - 1}$ as a fraction with a common denominator, multiply by $\frac{a + 2}{a + 2}$ .

$\frac{a - 2}{a - 1} \cdot \frac{a + 2}{a + 2} + \frac{a + 3}{a + 2} + \frac{a + 1}{a - 3}$

Step 2

To write $\frac{a + 3}{a + 2}$ as a fraction with a common denominator, multiply by $\frac{a - 1}{a - 1}$ .

$\frac{a - 2}{a - 1} \cdot \frac{a + 2}{a + 2} + \frac{a + 3}{a + 2} \cdot \frac{a - 1}{a - 1} + \frac{a + 1}{a - 3}$

Step 3

Write each expression with a common denominator of $(a - 1) (a + 2)$ , by multiplying each by an appropriate factor of $1$ .

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Step 3.1

Multiply $\frac{a - 2}{a - 1}$ by $\frac{a + 2}{a + 2}$ .

$\frac{(a - 2) (a + 2)}{(a - 1) (a + 2)} + \frac{a + 3}{a + 2} \cdot \frac{a - 1}{a - 1} + \frac{a + 1}{a - 3}$

Step 3.2

Multiply $\frac{a + 3}{a + 2}$ by $\frac{a - 1}{a - 1}$ .

$\frac{(a - 2) (a + 2)}{(a - 1) (a + 2)} + \frac{(a + 3) (a - 1)}{(a + 2) (a - 1)} + \frac{a + 1}{a - 3}$

Step 3.3

Reorder the factors of $(a - 1) (a + 2)$ .

$\frac{(a - 2) (a + 2)}{(a + 2) (a - 1)} + \frac{(a + 3) (a - 1)}{(a + 2) (a - 1)} + \frac{a + 1}{a - 3}$

Step 4

Combine the numerators over the common denominator.

$\frac{(a - 2) (a + 2) + (a + 3) (a - 1)}{(a + 2) (a - 1)} + \frac{a + 1}{a - 3}$

Step 5

Simplify the numerator.

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Step 5.1

Expand $(a - 2) (a + 2)$ using the FOIL Method.

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Step 5.1.1

Apply the distributive property.

$\frac{a (a + 2) - 2 (a + 2) + (a + 3) (a - 1)}{(a + 2) (a - 1)} + \frac{a + 1}{a - 3}$

Step 5.1.2

Apply the distributive property.

$\frac{a \cdot a + a \cdot 2 - 2 (a + 2) + (a + 3) (a - 1)}{(a + 2) (a - 1)} + \frac{a + 1}{a - 3}$

Step 5.1.3

Apply the distributive property.

$\frac{a \cdot a + a \cdot 2 - 2 a - 2 \cdot 2 + (a + 3) (a - 1)}{(a + 2) (a - 1)} + \frac{a + 1}{a - 3}$

Step 5.2

Combine the opposite terms in $a \cdot a + a \cdot 2 - 2 a - 2 \cdot 2$ .

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Step 5.2.1

Reorder the factors in the terms $a \cdot 2$ and $- 2 a$ .

$\frac{a \cdot a + 2 a - 2 a - 2 \cdot 2 + (a + 3) (a - 1)}{(a + 2) (a - 1)} + \frac{a + 1}{a - 3}$

Step 5.2.2

Subtract $2 a$ from $2 a$ .

$\frac{a \cdot a + 0 - 2 \cdot 2 + (a + 3) (a - 1)}{(a + 2) (a - 1)} + \frac{a + 1}{a - 3}$

Step 5.2.3

Add $a \cdot a$ and $0$ .

$\frac{a \cdot a - 2 \cdot 2 + (a + 3) (a - 1)}{(a + 2) (a - 1)} + \frac{a + 1}{a - 3}$

Step 5.3

Simplify each term.

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Step 5.3.1

Multiply $a$ by $a$ .

$\frac{a^{2} - 2 \cdot 2 + (a + 3) (a - 1)}{(a + 2) (a - 1)} + \frac{a + 1}{a - 3}$

Step 5.3.2

Multiply $- 2$ by $2$ .

$\frac{a^{2} - 4 + (a + 3) (a - 1)}{(a + 2) (a - 1)} + \frac{a + 1}{a - 3}$

Step 5.4

Expand $(a + 3) (a - 1)$ using the FOIL Method.

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Step 5.4.1

Apply the distributive property.

$\frac{a^{2} - 4 + a (a - 1) + 3 (a - 1)}{(a + 2) (a - 1)} + \frac{a + 1}{a - 3}$

Step 5.4.2

Apply the distributive property.

$\frac{a^{2} - 4 + a \cdot a + a \cdot - 1 + 3 (a - 1)}{(a + 2) (a - 1)} + \frac{a + 1}{a - 3}$

Step 5.4.3

Apply the distributive property.

$\frac{a^{2} - 4 + a \cdot a + a \cdot - 1 + 3 a + 3 \cdot - 1}{(a + 2) (a - 1)} + \frac{a + 1}{a - 3}$

Step 5.5

Simplify and combine like terms.

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Step 5.5.1

Simplify each term.

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Step 5.5.1.1

Multiply $a$ by $a$ .

$\frac{a^{2} - 4 + a^{2} + a \cdot - 1 + 3 a + 3 \cdot - 1}{(a + 2) (a - 1)} + \frac{a + 1}{a - 3}$

Step 5.5.1.2

Move $- 1$ to the left of $a$ .

$\frac{a^{2} - 4 + a^{2} - 1 \cdot a + 3 a + 3 \cdot - 1}{(a + 2) (a - 1)} + \frac{a + 1}{a - 3}$

Step 5.5.1.3

Rewrite $- 1 a$ as $- a$ .

$\frac{a^{2} - 4 + a^{2} - a + 3 a + 3 \cdot - 1}{(a + 2) (a - 1)} + \frac{a + 1}{a - 3}$

Step 5.5.1.4

Multiply $3$ by $- 1$ .

$\frac{a^{2} - 4 + a^{2} - a + 3 a - 3}{(a + 2) (a - 1)} + \frac{a + 1}{a - 3}$

Step 5.5.2

Add $- a$ and $3 a$ .

$\frac{a^{2} - 4 + a^{2} + 2 a - 3}{(a + 2) (a - 1)} + \frac{a + 1}{a - 3}$

Step 5.6

Add $a^{2}$ and $a^{2}$ .

$\frac{2 a^{2} - 4 + 2 a - 3}{(a + 2) (a - 1)} + \frac{a + 1}{a - 3}$

Step 5.7

Subtract $3$ from $- 4$ .

$\frac{2 a^{2} + 2 a - 7}{(a + 2) (a - 1)} + \frac{a + 1}{a - 3}$

Step 6

To write $\frac{2 a^{2} + 2 a - 7}{(a + 2) (a - 1)}$ as a fraction with a common denominator, multiply by $\frac{a - 3}{a - 3}$ .

$\frac{2 a^{2} + 2 a - 7}{(a + 2) (a - 1)} \cdot \frac{a - 3}{a - 3} + \frac{a + 1}{a - 3}$

Step 7

To write $\frac{a + 1}{a - 3}$ as a fraction with a common denominator, multiply by $\frac{(a + 2) (a - 1)}{(a + 2) (a - 1)}$ .

$\frac{2 a^{2} + 2 a - 7}{(a + 2) (a - 1)} \cdot \frac{a - 3}{a - 3} + \frac{a + 1}{a - 3} \cdot \frac{(a + 2) (a - 1)}{(a + 2) (a - 1)}$

Step 8

Write each expression with a common denominator of $(a + 2) (a - 1) (a - 3)$ , by multiplying each by an appropriate factor of $1$ .

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Step 8.1

Multiply $\frac{2 a^{2} + 2 a - 7}{(a + 2) (a - 1)}$ by $\frac{a - 3}{a - 3}$ .

$\frac{(2 a^{2} + 2 a - 7) (a - 3)}{(a + 2) (a - 1) (a - 3)} + \frac{a + 1}{a - 3} \cdot \frac{(a + 2) (a - 1)}{(a + 2) (a - 1)}$

Step 8.2

Multiply $\frac{a + 1}{a - 3}$ by $\frac{(a + 2) (a - 1)}{(a + 2) (a - 1)}$ .

$\frac{(2 a^{2} + 2 a - 7) (a - 3)}{(a + 2) (a - 1) (a - 3)} + \frac{(a + 1) ((a + 2) (a - 1))}{(a - 3) ((a + 2) (a - 1))}$

Step 8.3

Reorder the factors of $(a - 3) ((a + 2) (a - 1))$ .

$\frac{(2 a^{2} + 2 a - 7) (a - 3)}{(a + 2) (a - 1) (a - 3)} + \frac{(a + 1) ((a + 2) (a - 1))}{(a + 2) (a - 1) (a - 3)}$

Step 9

Combine the numerators over the common denominator.

$\frac{(2 a^{2} + 2 a - 7) (a - 3) + (a + 1) ((a + 2) (a - 1))}{(a + 2) (a - 1) (a - 3)}$

Step 10

Simplify the numerator.

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Step 10.1

Expand $(2 a^{2} + 2 a - 7) (a - 3)$ by multiplying each term in the first expression by each term in the second expression.

$\frac{2 a^{2} a + 2 a^{2} \cdot - 3 + 2 a \cdot a + 2 a \cdot - 3 - 7 a - 7 \cdot - 3 + (a + 1) (a + 2) (a - 1)}{(a + 2) (a - 1) (a - 3)}$

Step 10.2

Simplify each term.

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Step 10.2.1

Multiply $a^{2}$ by $a$ by adding the exponents.

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Step 10.2.1.1

Move $a$ .

$\frac{2 (a \cdot a^{2}) + 2 a^{2} \cdot - 3 + 2 a \cdot a + 2 a \cdot - 3 - 7 a - 7 \cdot - 3 + (a + 1) (a + 2) (a - 1)}{(a + 2) (a - 1) (a - 3)}$

Step 10.2.1.2

Multiply $a$ by $a^{2}$ .

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Step 10.2.1.2.1

Raise $a$ to the power of $1$ .

$\frac{2 (a^{1} a^{2}) + 2 a^{2} \cdot - 3 + 2 a \cdot a + 2 a \cdot - 3 - 7 a - 7 \cdot - 3 + (a + 1) (a + 2) (a - 1)}{(a + 2) (a - 1) (a - 3)}$

Step 10.2.1.2.2

Use the power rule $a^{m} a^{n} = a^{m + n}$ to combine exponents.

$\frac{2 a^{1 + 2} + 2 a^{2} \cdot - 3 + 2 a \cdot a + 2 a \cdot - 3 - 7 a - 7 \cdot - 3 + (a + 1) (a + 2) (a - 1)}{(a + 2) (a - 1) (a - 3)}$

Step 10.2.1.3

Add $1$ and $2$ .

$\frac{2 a^{3} + 2 a^{2} \cdot - 3 + 2 a \cdot a + 2 a \cdot - 3 - 7 a - 7 \cdot - 3 + (a + 1) (a + 2) (a - 1)}{(a + 2) (a - 1) (a - 3)}$

Step 10.2.2

Multiply $- 3$ by $2$ .

$\frac{2 a^{3} - 6 a^{2} + 2 a \cdot a + 2 a \cdot - 3 - 7 a - 7 \cdot - 3 + (a + 1) (a + 2) (a - 1)}{(a + 2) (a - 1) (a - 3)}$

Step 10.2.3

Multiply $a$ by $a$ by adding the exponents.

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Step 10.2.3.1

Move $a$ .

$\frac{2 a^{3} - 6 a^{2} + 2 (a \cdot a) + 2 a \cdot - 3 - 7 a - 7 \cdot - 3 + (a + 1) (a + 2) (a - 1)}{(a + 2) (a - 1) (a - 3)}$

Step 10.2.3.2

Multiply $a$ by $a$ .

$\frac{2 a^{3} - 6 a^{2} + 2 a^{2} + 2 a \cdot - 3 - 7 a - 7 \cdot - 3 + (a + 1) (a + 2) (a - 1)}{(a + 2) (a - 1) (a - 3)}$

Step 10.2.4

Multiply $- 3$ by $2$ .

$\frac{2 a^{3} - 6 a^{2} + 2 a^{2} - 6 a - 7 a - 7 \cdot - 3 + (a + 1) (a + 2) (a - 1)}{(a + 2) (a - 1) (a - 3)}$

Step 10.2.5

Multiply $- 7$ by $- 3$ .

$\frac{2 a^{3} - 6 a^{2} + 2 a^{2} - 6 a - 7 a + 21 + (a + 1) (a + 2) (a - 1)}{(a + 2) (a - 1) (a - 3)}$

Step 10.3

Add $- 6 a^{2}$ and $2 a^{2}$ .

$\frac{2 a^{3} - 4 a^{2} - 6 a - 7 a + 21 + (a + 1) (a + 2) (a - 1)}{(a + 2) (a - 1) (a - 3)}$

Step 10.4

Subtract $7 a$ from $- 6 a$ .

$\frac{2 a^{3} - 4 a^{2} - 13 a + 21 + (a + 1) (a + 2) (a - 1)}{(a + 2) (a - 1) (a - 3)}$

Step 10.5

Expand $(a + 1) (a + 2)$ using the FOIL Method.

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Step 10.5.1

Apply the distributive property.

$\frac{2 a^{3} - 4 a^{2} - 13 a + 21 + (a (a + 2) + 1 (a + 2)) (a - 1)}{(a + 2) (a - 1) (a - 3)}$

Step 10.5.2

Apply the distributive property.

$\frac{2 a^{3} - 4 a^{2} - 13 a + 21 + (a \cdot a + a \cdot 2 + 1 (a + 2)) (a - 1)}{(a + 2) (a - 1) (a - 3)}$

Step 10.5.3

Apply the distributive property.

$\frac{2 a^{3} - 4 a^{2} - 13 a + 21 + (a \cdot a + a \cdot 2 + 1 a + 1 \cdot 2) (a - 1)}{(a + 2) (a - 1) (a - 3)}$

Step 10.6

Simplify and combine like terms.

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Step 10.6.1

Simplify each term.

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Step 10.6.1.1

Multiply $a$ by $a$ .

$\frac{2 a^{3} - 4 a^{2} - 13 a + 21 + (a^{2} + a \cdot 2 + 1 a + 1 \cdot 2) (a - 1)}{(a + 2) (a - 1) (a - 3)}$

Step 10.6.1.2

Move $2$ to the left of $a$ .

$\frac{2 a^{3} - 4 a^{2} - 13 a + 21 + (a^{2} + 2 \cdot a + 1 a + 1 \cdot 2) (a - 1)}{(a + 2) (a - 1) (a - 3)}$

Step 10.6.1.3

Multiply $a$ by $1$ .

$\frac{2 a^{3} - 4 a^{2} - 13 a + 21 + (a^{2} + 2 a + a + 1 \cdot 2) (a - 1)}{(a + 2) (a - 1) (a - 3)}$

Step 10.6.1.4

Multiply $2$ by $1$ .

$\frac{2 a^{3} - 4 a^{2} - 13 a + 21 + (a^{2} + 2 a + a + 2) (a - 1)}{(a + 2) (a - 1) (a - 3)}$

Step 10.6.2

Add $2 a$ and $a$ .

$\frac{2 a^{3} - 4 a^{2} - 13 a + 21 + (a^{2} + 3 a + 2) (a - 1)}{(a + 2) (a - 1) (a - 3)}$

Step 10.7

Expand $(a^{2} + 3 a + 2) (a - 1)$ by multiplying each term in the first expression by each term in the second expression.

$\frac{2 a^{3} - 4 a^{2} - 13 a + 21 + a^{2} a + a^{2} \cdot - 1 + 3 a \cdot a + 3 a \cdot - 1 + 2 a + 2 \cdot - 1}{(a + 2) (a - 1) (a - 3)}$

Step 10.8

Simplify each term.

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Step 10.8.1

Multiply $a^{2}$ by $a$ by adding the exponents.

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Step 10.8.1.1

Multiply $a^{2}$ by $a$ .

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Step 10.8.1.1.1

Raise $a$ to the power of $1$ .

$\frac{2 a^{3} - 4 a^{2} - 13 a + 21 + a^{2} a^{1} + a^{2} \cdot - 1 + 3 a \cdot a + 3 a \cdot - 1 + 2 a + 2 \cdot - 1}{(a + 2) (a - 1) (a - 3)}$

Step 10.8.1.1.2

Use the power rule $a^{m} a^{n} = a^{m + n}$ to combine exponents.

$\frac{2 a^{3} - 4 a^{2} - 13 a + 21 + a^{2 + 1} + a^{2} \cdot - 1 + 3 a \cdot a + 3 a \cdot - 1 + 2 a + 2 \cdot - 1}{(a + 2) (a - 1) (a - 3)}$

Step 10.8.1.2

Add $2$ and $1$ .

$\frac{2 a^{3} - 4 a^{2} - 13 a + 21 + a^{3} + a^{2} \cdot - 1 + 3 a \cdot a + 3 a \cdot - 1 + 2 a + 2 \cdot - 1}{(a + 2) (a - 1) (a - 3)}$

Step 10.8.2

Move $- 1$ to the left of $a^{2}$ .

$\frac{2 a^{3} - 4 a^{2} - 13 a + 21 + a^{3} - 1 \cdot a^{2} + 3 a \cdot a + 3 a \cdot - 1 + 2 a + 2 \cdot - 1}{(a + 2) (a - 1) (a - 3)}$

Step 10.8.3

Rewrite $- 1 a^{2}$ as $- a^{2}$ .

$\frac{2 a^{3} - 4 a^{2} - 13 a + 21 + a^{3} - a^{2} + 3 a \cdot a + 3 a \cdot - 1 + 2 a + 2 \cdot - 1}{(a + 2) (a - 1) (a - 3)}$

Step 10.8.4

Multiply $a$ by $a$ by adding the exponents.

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Step 10.8.4.1

Move $a$ .

$\frac{2 a^{3} - 4 a^{2} - 13 a + 21 + a^{3} - a^{2} + 3 (a \cdot a) + 3 a \cdot - 1 + 2 a + 2 \cdot - 1}{(a + 2) (a - 1) (a - 3)}$

Step 10.8.4.2

Multiply $a$ by $a$ .

$\frac{2 a^{3} - 4 a^{2} - 13 a + 21 + a^{3} - a^{2} + 3 a^{2} + 3 a \cdot - 1 + 2 a + 2 \cdot - 1}{(a + 2) (a - 1) (a - 3)}$

Step 10.8.5

Multiply $- 1$ by $3$ .

$\frac{2 a^{3} - 4 a^{2} - 13 a + 21 + a^{3} - a^{2} + 3 a^{2} - 3 a + 2 a + 2 \cdot - 1}{(a + 2) (a - 1) (a - 3)}$

Step 10.8.6

Multiply $2$ by $- 1$ .

$\frac{2 a^{3} - 4 a^{2} - 13 a + 21 + a^{3} - a^{2} + 3 a^{2} - 3 a + 2 a - 2}{(a + 2) (a - 1) (a - 3)}$

Step 10.9

Add $- a^{2}$ and $3 a^{2}$ .

$\frac{2 a^{3} - 4 a^{2} - 13 a + 21 + a^{3} + 2 a^{2} - 3 a + 2 a - 2}{(a + 2) (a - 1) (a - 3)}$

Step 10.10

Add $- 3 a$ and $2 a$ .

$\frac{2 a^{3} - 4 a^{2} - 13 a + 21 + a^{3} + 2 a^{2} - a - 2}{(a + 2) (a - 1) (a - 3)}$

Step 10.11

Add $2 a^{3}$ and $a^{3}$ .

$\frac{3 a^{3} - 4 a^{2} - 13 a + 21 + 2 a^{2} - a - 2}{(a + 2) (a - 1) (a - 3)}$

Step 10.12

Add $- 4 a^{2}$ and $2 a^{2}$ .

$\frac{3 a^{3} - 2 a^{2} - 13 a + 21 - a - 2}{(a + 2) (a - 1) (a - 3)}$

Step 10.13

Subtract $a$ from $- 13 a$ .

$\frac{3 a^{3} - 2 a^{2} - 14 a + 21 - 2}{(a + 2) (a - 1) (a - 3)}$

Step 10.14

Subtract $2$ from $21$ .

$\frac{3 a^{3} - 2 a^{2} - 14 a + 19}{(a + 2) (a - 1) (a - 3)}$