which expression represents the sum of the following?

7 / a - 1 + 3 / 2a - 2

a) 10 / 3a - 3
b) 17 / 2(a - 1)
c) 17 / 2(a -1)^2
d) 10 / 2a - 2

I get 17/2a - 3

are you sure you do not mean:
7/(a-1) + 3/(2a-2) ???
that is
14/(2a-2) + 3/(2a-2)
which is
17/(2a-2)
which is
17/[2(a-1)]
which is your (b)
BE CAREFUL ABOUT PARENTHESES WHEN USING A KEYBOARD FOR MATH EXPRESSIONS!!!

yeah that's what i mean 7/(a-1) + 3/(2a-2) thanks damon

To find the sum of the given expressions, we need to combine like terms.

The given expressions are:
7 / a - 1
3 / 2a
- 2

To combine the expressions, we need to have the same denominator for the fractions. The least common denominator (LCD) for "a" and "2a" is "2a". So, let's rewrite the expressions with the common denominator:

(7 * 2)/(a * 2) - (1 * 2)/(1 * 2) + (3 * a)/(2a) - 2

Simplifying this expression, we get:

(14 - 2a + 3a)/(2a) - 2

Combining like terms, the numerator becomes:

(14 + a)/(2a) - 2

Now, we can rewrite this expression as a single fraction by multiplying the first fraction by "a/a" to get the common denominator:

(14 + a)/(2a) - (2 * a)/(2a)

Combining the fractions, we get:

(14 + a - 2a)/(2a)

Simplifying further, we have:

(14 - a)/(2a)

So, the expression that represents the sum of the given expressions is (14 - a)/(2a).

Therefore, the correct answer is d) 10 / 2a - 2.