## anonymous 4 years ago perform the operations and simplify: 3x+4/x^2-16 - 2/x-4

1. pfenn1

Is this your expression?$\frac{3x+4}{x^2-2} - \frac{2}{x-4}$

2. anonymous

how do i solve this problem?

3. pfenn1

I have to go eat dinner but maybe @dpaInc can help you.

4. anonymous

mmm. what are we having!!! pizza?

5. anonymous

ok.. hello?

6. anonymous

i'm here

7. pfenn1

What is the LCD?

8. anonymous

i don't know

9. pfenn1

well, let's try a LCD of$(x^2-2)(x-4)$What we get is$\frac{3x+4}{x^2-2} - \frac{2}{x-4}=\frac{(3x+4)(x-4)-2(x^2-2)}{(x^2-2)(x-4)}$

10. pfenn1

Can you multiply out the numerator?$(3x+4)(x-4)-2(x^2-2)=\text { ?}$

11. anonymous

if there was an equal sign rather than the subtraction sign between the two only then you can do that. That is why this question is puzzling. you are cross multiplying...is that a legal move?

12. pfenn1

@mellylol, am I cross multiplying? I thought I was coming up with a LCD. What should I have done?

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