- #1
Raizy
- 107
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Homework Statement
[tex] a - \frac {a}{1-\frac{a}{1-a}} [/tex]
The Attempt at a Solution
[tex] \frac{a}{1-a} [/tex] This might be the part where I am confused. I always get confused when I need to factor out a -1 from this fraction's denominator in order to put it into the form of [tex] \frac{a}{a-1} [/tex]
So here is my attempt (3 other attempts were made, but that will take way too long to convert to latex (I'm newbie at it):
[tex] a - \frac {a}{1-\frac{a}{1-a}} = a - \frac {a}{1+\frac{a}{a-1}} [/tex] This is the part where I factored out a -1 from the [tex] \frac{a}{1-a} [/tex]
LCM of complex fraction = [tex]a-1[/tex]
[tex]= a-\frac{a^2-a}{a-1+a} [/tex]
[tex]= \frac {2a^2-a-a^2+a}{a-1+a}[/tex][tex] = \frac{a^2}{2a-1} [/tex]
The book's answer: [tex]-\frac {a^2}{1-2a} [/tex]
Arghh.. what the heck!