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Maths Question help

Untitled.pngIs the answer to simplifying this question x^-2 + 4 or is the answer simply 4? am i incorrect. I dont have the answer sheet so help would be appreciated!
(edited 5 years ago)
Original post by michael08
Untitled.pngIs the answer to this question x^-2 + 4 or am i incorrect. I dont have the answer sheet so help would be appreciated!


What are you being asked to do? Simplify? Differentiate? or what?
Reply 2
Avatar for gorilla558
gorilla558
OP
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Original post by Muttley79
What are you being asked to do? Simplify? Differentiate? or what?


simplify
Reply 3
Avatar for Sinnoh
Sinnoh
22
Original post by michael08
Is the answer to simplifying this question x^-2 + 4


yes
Original post by michael08
Untitled.pngIs the answer to simplifying this question x^-2 + 4 or is the answer simply 4? am i incorrect. I dont have the answer sheet so help would be appreciated!


The only common factor is x so I think the answer is (1 + 4x^2)/x^2

If its wanting it as powers of x then what you wrote was fine.
Reply 5
Avatar for gorilla558
gorilla558
OP
11
Original post by Sinnoh
yes
but can this be futher simplified to 1/x^2 + 4x^2/x^2 to therefore simplify to 4? or is this incorrect
Factorise the top first by x


(x(1 + 4x^2))/(x*x*x)

The x on top and bottom can cancel leaving you with

(1 + 4x^2)/(x^2)

Which is simplest form
Reply 7
Avatar for Sinnoh
Sinnoh
22
Original post by michael08
but can this be futher simplified to 1/x^2 + 4x^2/x^2 to therefore simplify to 4? or is this incorrect


No, you've added a division by x^2 there
Original post by michael08
Untitled.pngIs the answer to simplifying this question x^-2 + 4 or is the answer simply 4? am i incorrect. I dont have the answer sheet so help would be appreciated!


Yes your answer is correct.

x+4x3x3=xx3+4x3x3=1x2+4\displaystyle \frac{x+4x^{3}}{x^{3}} = \frac{x}{x^{3}} + \frac{4x^{3}}{x^{3}} = \frac{1}{x^{2}} + 4 or alternatively x−2+4\displaystyle x^{-2} + 4

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