simplify the complex fraction: r^-2+1/r-1

Question

 Do I have to do anything to the r-1? or can I just divide it with the numerator (which would be: r^2+1)

Answer 1

I assume you mean

 

(r^-2 + 1) / r^-1

 

When we have a negative exponent, we perform the reciprocal.

 

r*(r^-2 + 1)

 

 

Now we can distribute the r term.

 

r^-1 + r =

 

(1/r) + r =

 

(1 + r²) / r