Question

Simplify the sum.
7/a+8 + 7/a^2-64

Answer 1

7/a^2 + 7/a - 56

You would just add 8 to 64. You can't simplify 7/a^2 and 7/a because of the exponent. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

`(7(a-7))/((a+8)(a-8))`

Explanation:

we have

`(7)/(a+8)+(7)/(a^(2)-64)`

Remember that

`a^(2)-64=(a+8)(a-8)`

substitute

`(7)/(a+8)+(7)/((a+8)(a-8))=(7(a-8)+7)/((a+8)(a-8))\\ \\=(7a-56+7)/((a+8)(a-8))\\ \\= (7a-49)/((a+8)(a-8))\\ \\=(7(a-7))/((a+8)(a-8))`