4.4k views
5 votes
what is the least common denominator that can be used to solve this equation ?1/x + 2/x-3 = 5a: x-3b:x(x-3)c:5x(x-3)d: x

User Boraas
by
5.1k points

1 Answer

1 vote

Hello there. To solve this question, we'll have to remember some properties about finding the common denominator in a sum of fractions.

Given the equation:


(1)/(x)+(2)/(x-3)=5

We have to determine its least common denominator.

For this, remember the definition for least common factor of polynomials:

If f(x) and g(x) are polynomials, their lcm(f(x), g(x)) can be calculated as:


lcm(f(x),g(x))=(f(x)\cdot g(x))/(gcd(f(x),g(x)))

Where gcd(f(x),g(x)) is the greatest common divisor of the polynomials.

Usually, this expression gives another polynomial, as you can see we're dividing the product between f and g by their gcd.

In this case, notice f and g are linear functions. Most specifically they're first degree polynomials with leading coefficient equal 1 (monoic).

In this case, if f(x) is not equal to g(x), then we show that


gcd(f(x),g(x))=1

Such that their lcm is simply given by


lcm(f(x),g(x))=f(x)\cdot g(x)

Therefore we have the least common denominator of this equation as


lcm(x,x-3)=x\cdot(x-3)

This is the answer contained in the option b).

User Stderr
by
4.8k points