Assignment 7

course Mth 158

007. `* 7

* R.7.10 (was R.7.6). Show how you reduced (x^2 + 4 x + 4) / (x^4 - 16) to lowest terms.

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Your solution:

Factoring the numerator is (x+2)^2

Factoring the denominator is (x^2-4)(x^2+4) and further (x-2)(x+2)(x^2+4) so

(x+2)^2 / (x-2)(x+2)(x^2+4) and reducing to get (x+2)/[(x-2)(x^2+4)

Confidence Assessment:

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Given Solution:

* * ** We factor the denominator to get first (x^2-4)(x^2+4), then (x-2)(x+2)(x^2+4). The numerator factors as (x+2)^2. So the fraction is

• (x+2)(x+2)/[(x-2)(x+2)(x^2+4)],

which reduces to

• (x+2)/[(x-2)(x^2+4)].

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Self-critique (if necessary):

You have to make sure you factor everything completely like in the denominator

Self-critique Rating:

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Question:

* R.7.28 (was R.7.24). Show how you simplified[ ( x - 2) / (4x) ] / [ (x^2 - 4 x + 4) / (12 x) ].

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Your solution:

Bring the denominators to the numerator so x-2 * 4x / x^2 -4x +4 * 12x then x^2-4x+4 factors out to (x-2)(x-2) then cancel like factors which are (x-2) / (x-2) cancel out and then 4x/12x cancels out and leaves 3 leaving 1/ (x-2)*3

Confidence Assessment:

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Given Solution:

[ ( x - 2) / (4x) ] / [ (x^2 - 4 x + 4) / (12 x) ] =

(x-2) * / 4x * 12 x / (x^2 - 4x + 4) =

(x-2) * 12 x / [ 4x ( x^2 - 4x + 4) ] =

12 x (x-2) / [4x ( x-2) ( x-2) ] =

3/(x - 2) **

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Self-critique (if necessary):

The 12x went to the numerator of the first expression and when I solved the 12x goes to the numerator of the second expression in the entire division problem. That is why my answer the simplified 3 is in the denominator and in the given solution the 3 is the numerator

Self-critique Rating:

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Question:

* R.7.40 (was R.7.36). Show how you found and simplified the sum (2x - 5) / (3x + 2) + ( x + 4) / (3x + 2).

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Your solution:

Group so [(2x-5)+(x+4)]/(3x+2) then add like terms giving (3x-1)/(3x+2)

Confidence Assessment:

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Given Solution:

We have two like terms so we write

• (2x-5)/(3x+2) + (x+4)/(3x+2) = [(2x-5)+(x+4)]/(3x+2).

Simplifying the numerator we have

• (3x-1)/(3x+2).

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Self-critique (if necessary):

Self-critique Rating:

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Question:

* R.7.52 (was R.7.48). Show how you found and simplified the expression (x - 1) / x^3 + x / (x^2 + 1).

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Your solution:

Get a common denominator multiplying by x^2 + 1 and x^3 so

[(x-1)/(x^3) (x^2+1)/(x^2+1)]+[(x)/(x^2+1) (x^3)/(x^3)] simplifying to

(x-1)(x^2+1)/[ (x^3)(x^2+1)] + x^4/ [(x^3)(x^2+1)] and further simplifying to

(x^3+x-x^2-1+x^4) / ) / [ (x^3)(x^2+1)] and again simplify

(x^4 +x^3 - x^2+x-1) / ) / [ (x^3)(x^2+1)]

Confidence Assessment:

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Given Solution:

Starting with (x-1)/x^3 + x/(x^2+1) we multiply the first term by (x^2 + 1) / (x^2 + 1) and the second by x^3 / x^3 to get a common denominator:

[(x-1)/(x^3) * (x^2+1)/(x^2+1)]+[(x)/(x^2+1) * (x^3)/(x^3)], which simplifies to

(x-1)(x^2+1)/[ (x^3)(x^2+1)] + x^4/ [(x^3)(x^2+1)].

Since the denominator is common to both we combine numerators:

(x^3+x-x^2-1+x^4) / ) / [ (x^3)(x^2+1)] .

We finally simplify to get

(x^4 +x^3 - x^2+x-1) / ) / [ (x^3)(x^2+1)]

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Self-critique (if necessary):

It is tough when you have to keep simplifying and factor correctly and with division and it’s rules but being careful and not rushing works for me.

Self-critique Rating:

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Question:

* R.7.58 (was R.7.54). How did you find the LCM of x - 3, x^3 + 3x and x^3 - 9x, and what is your result?

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Your solution:

Factor each expression so x(x^2+3) and (x-3) and x(x+3)(x-3) so

the LCM is x(x-3)(x+3)(x^2+3)

Confidence Assessment:

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Given Solution:

x-3, x^3+3x and x^3-9x factor into

x-3, x(x^2+3) and x(x^2-9) then into

(x-3) , x(x^2+3) , x(x-3)(x+3).

The factors x-3, x, x^2 + 3 and x + 3 'cover' all the factors of the three polynomials, and all are needed to do so. The LCM is therefore:

• LCM = x(x-3)(x+3)(x^2+3)

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Self-critique (if necessary):

You have to make sure to simplify/factor completely to see the common

Self-critique Rating:

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Question:

* R.7.64 (was R.7.60). Show how you found and simplified the difference 3x / (x-1) - (x - 4) / (x^2 - 2x + 1).

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Your solution:

I’m not sure b/c it gets confusing to know where each expression is with the way written.

Confidence Assessment:

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Given Solution:

* * ** Starting with

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

we factor the denominator of the second term to obtain (x - 1)^2. Since the first denominator (x - 1) is already a factor of the second, our common denominator is (x - 1)^2.

To express the given expression in terms of the common denominator we then multiply the first expression by (x-1) / (x-1) to get

3x(x-1)/(x-1)^2 - (x-4)/(x-1)^2,

which gives us

(3x^2-3x-x-4) / (x-1)^2 = (3x^2 - 4x - 4) / (x-1)^2.

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Self-critique (if necessary):

Ok it makes sense once I looked at the solution given. First thing is to factor and then see if anything cancels out and grouping like terms. And keep simplifying until you can’t anymore.

Good, but one other thing goes first: the very first thing is to write the expression down and arrange it in standard notation using the order of operations.

Self-critique Rating:

QUESTION FROM STUDENT: On the practice test I'm having problems with problem #5 I don't know where to start or how to set it up. I'm probably missing something simple and will probably feel stupid by seeing the solution. Could you help with this problem.

A retailer is offering 35% off the purchase price of any pair of shoes during its annual charity sale. The sale price of the shoes pictured in the advertisement is $44.85. Find the original price of the shoes by solving the equation p-.35p = 44.85 for p.

INSTRUCTOR RESPONSE: It's very easy to grab onto the wrong idea on a problem and then have trouble shaking it, or to just fail to look at it the right way. Nothing stupid about it, just human nature.

See if the following makes sense. If not let me know.

p - .35 p = 44.85. Since p - .35 p = 1 p - .35 p = (1 - .35) p = .65 p we have

.65 p = 44.85. Multiplying both sides by 1/.65 we get

p = 44.85 / .65 = etc. (you can do the division on your calculator); you'll get something near $67).

Your work looks very good overall. See my note(s).

Do begin to include confidence assessments and self-critique assessments in your work.