Question

Please simplify.

5x^-2 - 3y -1/ OVER

x^-1 + y^-1

Answer 1

first you should realize that the y^-1 and x^-1 can be made positive by moving them up to the numerator. Likewise the 5x^-2 can be put in the denominator. With all positive exponents it is easier to solve.

(5x^-2)-3y-1
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x^-1+y^-1

x+y-3y-1 --> Moved negative exponents
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5x^2

x-2y-1 --> combine like terms
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5x^2

-2y-1 --> x's cancell out in numerator
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5x

you can leave the answer like this or move everything into the numerator and it would look like this:

(5x^-1)-2y-1