Question

How do you simplify this

Answer 1

Top:

x / (x + 1) - 1 / x

= [x^2 - (x +1)] / x(x+1)

= (x^2 - x - 1 ) / x (x+1)

Bottom:

x / (x + 1) + 1 / x

= [x^2 + (x +1)] / x(x+1)

= (x^2 + x + 1 ) / x (x+1)

Now you have:

(x^2 - x - 1 ) / x (x+1)

----------------------------

(x^2 + x + 1 ) / x (x+1)

= (x^2 - x - 1 ) / x (x+1) * x (x+1) / (x^2 + x + 1 )

= (x^2 - x - 1 ) /(x^2 + x + 1 )

Answer:

x^2 - x - 1

---------------------

x^2 + x + 1