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2(x^2 - 9) / (x^2 + x - 6) + 2/(x-2) =?

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Source: — Problem Solving |

by chetan.sharma » Thu Jan 14, 2016 8:19 am
lee3381 wrote:2(x^2 - 9) / (x^2 + x - 6) + 2/(x-2) = ?

The answer is 2.

Can anyone explain this answer?
hi,
first let me factorize different equations ..
(x^2 - 9)=(x-3)(x+3)...
(x^2 + x - 6)= x^2+3x-2x-6=x(x+3)-2(x+3)=(x-2)(x+3)..

now lets substitute these values in main equation..
2(x^2 - 9) / (x^2 + x - 6) + 2/(x-2)..
2(x-3)(x+3) / (x-2)(x+3) + 2/(x-2)=2(x-3)/(x-2) + 2/(x-2)...
{2(x-3)+2}/(x-2) = (2x-6+2)/(x-2)..
(2x-4)/(x-2)= 2(x-2)/(x-2)=2..

Hope it helps .
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by [email protected] » Thu Jan 14, 2016 12:01 pm
Hi All,

This prompt might be confusing to certain Test Takers, so here are a couple of things to note about it:

1) It's not 'formatted' particularly well. Having brackets around the first 'fraction' would probably help...

[2(X^2 - 9) / (X^2 + X - 6)] + 2/(X-2)

In this way, you can see that you're adding together 2 distinct fractions.

2) You're NOT trying to solve for the value of X. You're attempting to simplify the given equation. The math itself involves Classic Quadratics and 'canceling out' terms.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
Contact Rich at [email protected]
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