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ggarr
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I picked A. Please explain why I'm wrong. I'd rather not pick #s for this. Why doesn't -p-5 in the numerator and denominator cancel out?

p+5+p^3(-p-5)/-p-5 =

a) p+5+p^3

b) p^3 + 5

c) p^3

d) p^3 - 1

e) p^3 - 5



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ggarr
I picked A. Please explain why I'm wrong. I'd rather not pick #s for this. Why doesn't -p-5 in the numerator and denominator cancel out?

p+5+p^3(-p-5)/-p-5 =

a) p+5+p^3

b) p^3 + 5

c) p^3

d) p^3 - 1

e) p^3 - 5
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The part in red is a little confusing. Can you please make it a little clearer?
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PS: Partial Spoiler Updated on: 30 Jun 2007, 08:59
Originally posted by mavery on 30 Jun 2007, 08:55.
Last edited by mavery on 30 Jun 2007, 08:59, edited 1 time in total.
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If I remember this question correctly, the entire statement p+5+p^3(-p-5) is divided by -p-5. That's why you can't just cancel the -p-5 on the top and bottom...

What you really have is (p+5)/(-p-5) + ((-p-5)*p^3)/(-p-5))...

If we rewrite the first part we get (p+5)/((-1)(p+5)) and when we cancel the p+5 we are left with -1...

We just simply cancel the -p-5 in the second part and are left with p^3...

So the answer is -1+p^3 or p^3-1.

Just on a side note, if the original equation was ((p+5+p^3)*(-p-5))/(-p-5), we could cancel...
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mavery
If I remember this question correctly, the entire statement p+5+p^3(-p-5) is divided by -p-5. That's why you can't just cancel the -p-5 on the top and bottom...

What you really have is (p+5)/(-p-5) + ((-p-5)*p^3)/(-p-5)...

If we rewrite the first part we get (p+5)/((-1)(p+5)) and when we cancel the p+5 we are left with -1...

We just simply cancel the -p-5 in the second part and are left with p^3...

So the answer is -1+p^3 or p^3-1.
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That should settle it then. :-D
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mavery
If I remember this question correctly, the entire statement p+5+p^3(-p-5) is divided by -p-5. That's why you can't just cancel the -p-5 on the top and bottom...

What you really have is (p+5)/(-p-5) + ((-p-5)*p^3)/(-p-5))...

If we rewrite the first part we get (p+5)/((-1)(p+5)) and when we cancel the p+5 we are left with -1...

We just simply cancel the -p-5 in the second part and are left with p^3...

So the answer is -1+p^3 or p^3-1.

Just on a side note, if the original equation was ((p+5+p^3)*(-p-5))/(-p-5), we could cancel...
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Thanks for your response Mavery. One question; wouldn't we be left with p^3/-1 since -1 was in the denominator of the first part, (p+5)/((-1)(p+5))?
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mavery
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In the first part, once we cancel the p+5 we are left with 1/-1 which = -1. And since we have "separated" the fractions, it stands alone by itself.
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thanks. i should've known that :oops:



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