How do you simplify exponents?
2 answers:
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Answer:
Step-by-step explanation:
So we have the expression:
To subtract, we want to have a common denominator. So, let's find a common denominator by using the LCM.
The LCM of 6 and 12 is 12.
Since the second term is already 12, let's multiply the first term by 2 to get its denominator to be 12:
Multiply:
Now, we can combine the fractions:
Subtract:
And we are done!
From the equation, it looks like we can set up a triangle like this. One side is x and the other is x + 20 because the northbound car traveled 20 miles farther. The hypotenuse is 100 because they were 100 miles apart.
Next, we can use the Pythagorean Theorem to solve for x:
a² + b² = c²
x² + (x + 20)² = 100²
This simplifies to:
x² + x² + 40x + 400 = 10000
2x² + 40x = 9600
2x² + 40x - 9600 = 0
After that, we can divided each side by 2:
x² + 20x - 4800 = 0
Next, we have to factor:
(x - 60)(x + 80) = 0
x = 60, -80
Since we know that distance can't be negative, 60 is the valid answer in this case.
x = 60
x + 20 = 80
Using this information, we know that the westbound car traveled 60 miles and the northbound car traveled 80 miles.
Next, we can use the Pythagorean Theorem to solve for x:
a² + b² = c²
x² + (x + 20)² = 100²
This simplifies to:
x² + x² + 40x + 400 = 10000
2x² + 40x = 9600
2x² + 40x - 9600 = 0
After that, we can divided each side by 2:
x² + 20x - 4800 = 0
Next, we have to factor:
(x - 60)(x + 80) = 0
x = 60, -80
Since we know that distance can't be negative, 60 is the valid answer in this case.
x = 60
x + 20 = 80
Using this information, we know that the westbound car traveled 60 miles and the northbound car traveled 80 miles.