((25/a)- a)/ (5 + a)
I know the answer comes to (5-a)/a but I can't figure out how to simplify it to this. I've gotten close but I'm not sure. Its probably easier than I'm making it out to be.
Try multiplying by a/a.
easiest way.....
multiply top and bottom of the main fraction by a to get
(25-a^2) / (a(5+a) )
= (5+a)(5-a)/(a(5+a) )
= (5-a)/a
To simplify the expression ((25/a) - a) / (5 + a) to (5 - a) / a, you can follow these steps:
Step 1: Distribute the minus sign to the terms inside the parentheses:
(25/a - a) / (5 + a)
Step 2: Find a common denominator for the fraction 25/a:
(25 - a^2/a) / (5 + a)
Step 3: Simplify the expression (25 - a^2)/a by factoring:
((5 - a)(5 + a)) / a
Step 4: Simplify the expression (5 - a)(5 + a) to (25 - a^2):
(25 - a^2) / a
Step 5: Rearrange the numerator:
(25 - a^2) / a = (a^2 - 25) / (-a)
Step 6: Multiply the numerator by -1 and change the order of the terms:
(a^2 - 25) / (-a) = (25 - a^2) / a
Finally, we have simplified the expression ((25/a) - a) / (5 + a) to (5 - a) / a.