Question

Find the lowest common denominator of the following fractions.5/n-2 and n+2/ n^2-4 n - 2 n2 - 4 (n - 2)(n2 - 4)

Answer 1

Answer:

(n-2)(n+2)

Step-by-step explanation:

The denominator of the second fraction is the difference of squares, so can be factored using the formula for that.

 (n^2 -4) = (n -2)(n +2)

Now, you will note that the second fraction has a numerator that is equal to one of the factors in the denominator. In other words, the whole fraction can be simplified to ...

 (n +2)/((n +2)(n -2)) = 1/(n -2) . . . . with the restriction n≠-2

This reduced form of the fraction has the same denominator as the first fraction, so you can say that the lowest common denominator is that: (n -2).

If there is some reason you don't want to reduce the second fraction, the lowest common denominator will be (n -2)(n +2).