Finite Math Examples

Solve for x 1/(x+5)+1/x=1/15
Step 1
Find the LCD of the terms in the equation.
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Step 1.1
Finding the LCD of a list of values is the same as finding the LCM of the denominators of those values.
Step 1.2
Since contains both numbers and variables, there are four steps to find the LCM. Find LCM for the numeric, variable, and compound variable parts. Then, multiply them all together.
Steps to find the LCM for are:
1. Find the LCM for the numeric part .
2. Find the LCM for the variable part .
3. Find the LCM for the compound variable part .
4. Multiply each LCM together.
Step 1.3
The LCM is the smallest positive number that all of the numbers divide into evenly.
1. List the prime factors of each number.
2. Multiply each factor the greatest number of times it occurs in either number.
Step 1.4
The number is not a prime number because it only has one positive factor, which is itself.
Not prime
Step 1.5
has factors of and .
Step 1.6
Multiply by .
Step 1.7
The factor for is itself.
occurs time.
Step 1.8
The LCM of is the result of multiplying all prime factors the greatest number of times they occur in either term.
Step 1.9
The factor for is itself.
occurs time.
Step 1.10
The LCM of is the result of multiplying all factors the greatest number of times they occur in either term.
Step 1.11
The Least Common Multiple of some numbers is the smallest number that the numbers are factors of.
Step 2
Multiply each term in by to eliminate the fractions.
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Step 2.1
Multiply each term in by .
Step 2.2
Simplify the left side.
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Step 2.2.1
Simplify each term.
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Step 2.2.1.1
Rewrite using the commutative property of multiplication.
Step 2.2.1.2
Combine and .
Step 2.2.1.3
Cancel the common factor of .
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Step 2.2.1.3.1
Factor out of .
Step 2.2.1.3.2
Cancel the common factor.
Step 2.2.1.3.3
Rewrite the expression.
Step 2.2.1.4
Rewrite using the commutative property of multiplication.
Step 2.2.1.5
Combine and .
Step 2.2.1.6
Cancel the common factor of .
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Step 2.2.1.6.1
Cancel the common factor.
Step 2.2.1.6.2
Rewrite the expression.
Step 2.2.1.7
Apply the distributive property.
Step 2.2.1.8
Multiply by .
Step 2.2.2
Add and .
Step 2.3
Simplify the right side.
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Step 2.3.1
Cancel the common factor of .
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Step 2.3.1.1
Factor out of .
Step 2.3.1.2
Cancel the common factor.
Step 2.3.1.3
Rewrite the expression.
Step 2.3.2
Apply the distributive property.
Step 2.3.3
Simplify the expression.
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Step 2.3.3.1
Multiply by .
Step 2.3.3.2
Move to the left of .
Step 3
Solve the equation.
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Step 3.1
Since is on the right side of the equation, switch the sides so it is on the left side of the equation.
Step 3.2
Move all terms containing to the left side of the equation.
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Step 3.2.1
Subtract from both sides of the equation.
Step 3.2.2
Subtract from .
Step 3.3
Subtract from both sides of the equation.
Step 3.4
Use the quadratic formula to find the solutions.
Step 3.5
Substitute the values , , and into the quadratic formula and solve for .
Step 3.6
Simplify.
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Step 3.6.1
Simplify the numerator.
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Step 3.6.1.1
Raise to the power of .
Step 3.6.1.2
Multiply .
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Step 3.6.1.2.1
Multiply by .
Step 3.6.1.2.2
Multiply by .
Step 3.6.1.3
Add and .
Step 3.6.1.4
Rewrite as .
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Step 3.6.1.4.1
Factor out of .
Step 3.6.1.4.2
Rewrite as .
Step 3.6.1.5
Pull terms out from under the radical.
Step 3.6.2
Multiply by .
Step 3.7
The final answer is the combination of both solutions.
Step 4
The result can be shown in multiple forms.
Exact Form:
Decimal Form: