Eff. Pot. Homework: Struggling with Algebra

roeb
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Homework Statement



I am trying to do problem 5, I seem to be having a hard time with the algebra.
http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/4224/landau.th.png

Homework Equations


The Attempt at a Solution



To find maximum value of the effective potential we just do: dU/dr = 0.
I get (which I have verified to be correct)
r_m^{n-2} = \frac{n*\alpha }{m \rho^2 v^2}

I rearrange that into
r_m = (\frac{n*\alpha }{m \rho^2 v^2})^{1/(n-2)}

Plugging that into the Ueff equation for r, I get (and simplifying a bit, let x = n/(n-2) ).

\frac{m^x v^{2x} \rho^{2x}}{2 n^{2x/n} \alpha^{2x/n}} - \frac{\alpha m^x v^{2x} \rho^{2x}}{n^x \alpha^x}

At this point I kind of get stuck, I can do the following, but it never seems to turn out 'right'.

\frac{m^x v^{2x} \rho^{2x}}{\alpha^x n^x} ( \frac{1}{2 \alpha^{2/n} n^{2/n}} - a)

Anyone know what I am doing wrong? it must be something simple because I am getting very close to the correct answer, it's just those terms on the right don't seem to become 'nice'.
 
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Whoops, I seem to have figured it out, apparently it's n^(-1) not n^2/n
 
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