Precalculus Examples

$\frac{2 x - 1}{x + 4} - 1$

Step 1

To write $- 1$ as a fraction with a common denominator, multiply by $\frac{x + 4}{x + 4}$ .

$\frac{2 x - 1}{x + 4} - 1 \cdot \frac{x + 4}{x + 4}$

Step 2

Simplify terms.

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Step 2.1

Combine $- 1$ and $\frac{x + 4}{x + 4}$ .

$\frac{2 x - 1}{x + 4} + \frac{- (x + 4)}{x + 4}$

Step 2.2

Combine the numerators over the common denominator.

$\frac{2 x - 1 - (x + 4)}{x + 4}$

Step 3

Simplify the numerator.

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Step 3.1

Apply the distributive property.

$\frac{2 x - 1 - x - 1 \cdot 4}{x + 4}$

Step 3.2

Multiply $- 1$ by $4$ .

$\frac{2 x - 1 - x - 4}{x + 4}$

Step 3.3

Subtract $x$ from $2 x$ .

$\frac{x - 1 - 4}{x + 4}$

Step 3.4

Subtract $4$ from $- 1$ .

$\frac{x - 5}{x + 4}$