Chapter 1: Problem 92
Find all real solutions of the equation. $$\frac{x}{2 x+7}-\frac{x+1}{x+3}=1$$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The real solutions are \(x = -\frac{7}{3}\) and \(x = -4\).
Step by step solution
01
Find a Common Denominator
To solve the equation, start by finding a common denominator to combine the fractions on the left side of the equation. The denominators are \(2x+7\) and \(x+3\). The common denominator will be their product: \((2x+7)(x+3)\).
02
Create Equivalent Fractions
Rewrite each fraction with the common denominator. The first fraction \(\frac{x}{2x+7}\) becomes \(\frac{x(x+3)}{(2x+7)(x+3)}\), and the second fraction \(\frac{x+1}{x+3}\) becomes \(\frac{(x+1)(2x+7)}{(2x+7)(x+3)}\).
03
Subtract the Fractions
Now that the fractions have a common denominator, subtract them: \[\frac{x(x+3) - (x+1)(2x+7)}{(2x+7)(x+3)} = 1\] Combine the numerators: \[x^2 + 3x - (2x^2 + 7x + 2x +7)\] which simplifies to \(-x^2 - 6x - 7\).
04
Set Up the New Equation
The equation turns into: \[\frac{x^2 + 3x - 2x^2 - 9x - 7}{(2x+7)(x+3)} = 1\] This simplifies to: \[\frac{-x^2 - 6x - 7}{(2x+7)(x+3)} = 1\].
05
Clear the Fraction
Multiply both sides by the denominator to eliminate the fraction:\[-x^2 - 6x - 7 = (2x+7)(x+3)\].
06
Expand and Simplify
Expand \((2x+7)(x+3)\) to get \(2x^2 + 6x + 7x + 21 = 2x^2 + 13x + 21\).Equating: \[-x^2 - 6x - 7 = 2x^2 + 13x + 21\].
07
Solve the Quadratic Equation
Combine like terms:\[0 = 3x^2 + 19x + 28\].Use the quadratic formula: \[x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}\] where \(a = 3\), \(b = 19\), \(c = 28\).
08
Calculate the Roots Using Quadratic Formula
Compute the discriminant: \[b^2 - 4ac = 19^2 - 4 \times 3 \times 28 = 361 - 336 = 25\].So, \[x = \frac{-19 \pm \sqrt{25}}{6}\].The roots are: \[x = \frac{-19 + 5}{6} = \frac{-14}{6} = -\frac{7}{3}\]and\[x = \frac{-19 - 5}{6} = \frac{-24}{6} = -4\].
09
Verify the Solutions
Check each solution in the original equation to make sure they don't make the denominator zero. For \(x = -\frac{7}{3}\), the denominators \(2x+7\) and \(x+3\) are not zero, and for \(x = -4\), neither denominator is zero.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Common Denominator
When solving equations with fractions, finding a common denominator is key for simplifying the problem. In this exercise, the challenge was to handle the fractions on the left side of the equation:\[\frac{x}{2x+7} - \frac{x+1}{x+3} = 1.\]To make this subtraction manageable, both fractions must share the same denominator. Without a common denominator, it's like trying to subtract apples from oranges!**Steps to Find a Common Denominator:**
- Identify the denominators of each fraction. In this case, they are
2x + 7andx + 3. - The common denominator becomes the product of these denominators:
(2x+7)(x+3). - Rewrite each fraction so that they share this common denominator. This involves adjusting the numerators accordingly to reflect this denominator.
Quadratic Formula
The quadratic formula is a powerful tool used to find solutions to quadratic equations of the form:\[ax^2 + bx + c = 0.\]In our exercise, after subtracting the fractions and clearing them from the equation, we arrive at a quadratic equation:\[3x^2 + 19x + 28 = 0.\]**Steps to Use the Quadratic Formula:**
- Identify the coefficients from the equation:
a = 3,b = 19, andc = 28. - Plug these numbers into the quadratic formula: \(x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}\).
- Calculate the discriminant \(b^2 - 4ac\). For our equation, it's
25. - Solve for the two possible values of
xby substituting the discriminant back into the formula.
Real Solutions
Determining whether the solutions to a quadratic equation are real or not primarily involves calculating the discriminant:\[\Delta = b^2 - 4ac.\]In this context, the discriminant helps us understand the nature of the roots for our quadratic equation:\[3x^2 + 19x + 28 = 0.\]**Understanding the Discriminant:**
- When \(\Delta > 0\), there are two distinct real solutions.
- When \(\Delta = 0\), there is one real double root.
- When \(\Delta < 0\), no real solutions exist; the roots are complex numbers.
25, which is greater than zero. This indicates two distinct real solutions for the equation:- \(x = -\frac{7}{3}\)
- \(x = -4\)