Example

Adding and Subtracting 3ww+2+2w+717w+4w2+9w+14\frac{3w}{w+2} + \frac{2}{w+7} - \frac{17w+4}{w^2+9w+14}

Simplify the expression 3ww+2+2w+717w+4w2+9w+14\frac{3w}{w+2} + \frac{2}{w+7} - \frac{17w+4}{w^2+9w+14}. First, factor the quadratic denominator w2+9w+14w^2+9w+14 to find the Least Common Denominator (LCD). It factors as (w+2)(w+7)(w+2)(w+7), making this the LCD. Rewrite each expression using the common denominator: multiply the numerator and denominator of the first term by (w+7)(w+7) to get 3w(w+7)(w+2)(w+7)\frac{3w(w+7)}{(w+2)(w+7)} and multiply the second term by (w+2)(w+2) to get 2(w+2)(w+7)(w+2)\frac{2(w+2)}{(w+7)(w+2)}. The third term already has the LCD. Combine the expressions into a single fraction: 3w(w+7)+2(w+2)(17w+4)(w+2)(w+7)\frac{3w(w+7) + 2(w+2) - (17w+4)}{(w+2)(w+7)}. Distribute across the numerators to get 3w2+21w+2w+417w4(w+2)(w+7)\frac{3w^2 + 21w + 2w + 4 - 17w - 4}{(w+2)(w+7)}. Combine like terms to simplify the numerator to 3w2+6w3w^2 + 6w. Factor out the greatest common factor, 3w3w, to yield 3w(w+2)3w(w+2). The fraction is now 3w(w+2)(w+2)(w+7)\frac{3w(w+2)}{(w+2)(w+7)}. Divide out the common factor of (w+2)(w+2), resulting in the final simplified expression 3ww+7\frac{3w}{w+7}.

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Updated 2026-05-25

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