Compare the value of the following expression with zero:

Question

5a^3b^2/a+b, where a<0, b<0

Answer 1

(5a^3b^2)/(a+b) >0 if a<0 and b<0

if a and b are negative, then a^3 is negative and b^2 is positive

the numerator will be negative and the denominator negative, so the fraction will be positive

BUT you wrote this, possibly, as (5a^3b^2/a) + b. Technically that's how you wrote it, if you follow PEMDAS order of operations.

then the parenthetical term is positive but b is negative and the combined terms could be either positive or negative. Or neither. It could = 0.