Expressed as a single fraction... is equal to?

Question

  5        1
----- - ----- =?
 x-3      x

Answer 1

get a common denominator!  it's x(x-3)

 

convert each rational to use the c.d:

 

5x - 1(x-3)

_________= (4x+3) / (x(x-3)).

x(x-3)

 

BTW: a GREAT idea is to choose a 'check value' for x, say 2.  Calculate the original expression's value using x = 2.

Then calculate the value of the Answer (using the simplified right hand side above).  They'll agree.  This is not a proof, but a SPOT CHECK gives you a degree of confidence that your answer is good.