Problem w/ a equation what includes fractions w/ others...

This topic has expert replies
User avatar
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 8
Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2008 4:45 am
Location: NYC
GMAT Score:5xx
if X does not equal 2, then [3x^2(x-2)-(x+2)]/(x-2) =

a. 3x^2 - x+2
b. 3x^2 + 1
c. 3x^2
d. 3x^2-1 (ans)
e. 3x^2-2

I'm having some difficulty on this question. i was able to get it down to:

3x^2-(x+2) but apparently that answer is incorrect. Can someone pls explain this to me?

I saw this on question on a separate thread, but no answer was issued...

Any help on this is greatly appreciated.
Last edited by Martian421 on Mon Sep 08, 2008 1:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.
~Martin
Source: — Problem Solving |

Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 46
Joined: Mon Aug 25, 2008 9:06 am
Thanked: 1 times

by madsport » Mon Sep 08, 2008 1:25 pm
The problem in your thread is written wrong. Here's how the problem should look like:

[3x^2(x-2)-x+2]/(x-2) <--notice i removed a set of parentheses. This is key, because you then break the equation into this:

[3x^2(x-2)]/(x-2) minus (x-2)/(x-2)

which then gives you

3x^2 - 1
Attachments
gmat question 13.jpeg

User avatar
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 8
Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2008 4:45 am
Location: NYC
GMAT Score:5xx

by Martian421 » Mon Sep 08, 2008 1:32 pm
Thanks Madsport...

i knew it was something simple like that.. i guess i need to stop over evaluating questions like these!
~Martin