How do you solve #\frac{10}{x^{2}-25}-\frac{1}{x-5}=\frac{3}{x+5}#?

1 Answer

#x=7.5 or 15/2#

Explanation:

#10/(x^2-25) - 1/(x-5) = 3/(x+5)#

Rewrite in an equivalent form by factoring

#10/((x+5)(x-5)) - 1/(x-5) = 3/(x+5)#

Multiply #1/(x+5) " by " (x-5)/(x-5)#

And the whole thing becomes

#10/((x+5)(x-5)) - (x-5)/((x+5)(x-5) )= 3/(x+5)#

Simplify and get #(10-(x-5))/((x+5)(x-5)) = 3/(x+5)#

Keep going and get #(10-x+5)/((x+5)(x-5)) = 3/(x+5)#

Multiply both sides by #(x-5)(x+5)#

#(cancel((x-5)(x+5)) xx(10-x+5))/(cancel((x+5)(x-5))) = (3xx(x-5)cancel(x+5))/cancel(x+5)#

and get

#10-x+5 = 3(x-5)#

Simplify and get #10-x+5 = 3x-15#

Keep going to get #30=4x #

so #x=7.5 or 15/2#