problems

[patti72458]

i am having problems with this

a over a+1 + 2a+4 over a^2-3a-4 = 2 over a-4

show work

 

[pka]

\(\displaystyle \L
\frac{a}{{a + 1}} + \frac{{2a + 4}}{{a^2 - 3a - 4}} = \frac{2}{{a - 4}}\).
That is the problem.

 

[skeeter]

well, I declare ... that middle term's denominator will factor

\(\displaystyle \frac{a}{a+1}\,+\,\frac{2a+4}{(a+1)(a-4)}\,=\,\frac{2}{a-4}\)

guess that means the common denominator will be \(\displaystyle (a+1)(a-4)\) ...

\(\displaystyle \frac{a(a-4)}{(a+1)(a-4)}\,+\,\frac{2a+4}{(a+1)(a-4)}\,=\,\frac{2(a+1)}{(a+1)(a-4)}\)

can you take it from here?