hi guys, please help me with my homework topic is factoring.

>>359774
simplify the numerator, [2/(1-a) + 2/(1+a)], into one fraction
do the same for the denominator
proceed from there

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>>359777
And then? :(

>>359780
Division is just inverse multiplication so it becomes [2/(1-a)^2] * [(1-a)^2/-2]
Everything then simplifies.

>>359780
you can only add fractions with a common denominator
let's begin with the top sum, 2/(1-a) + 2/(1+a)
the common denominator is (1-a)(1+a), or (1-a^2)
both fractions will be converted to that denominator
>2/(1-a)
multiply top and bottom by (1+a)
= [2(1+a)] / [(1-a)(1+a)]
= (2+a)/(1-a^2)
can you convert the other term, 2/(1+a), to the common denominator of (1-a^2)?

>>359780
Try that again... you know that if you multiply the denominator by something, you have to do it to the top too. On the top-top part you have

2+2a+2-2a

on the bottom-top part you have

2-2a-2-2a

and the denominators don't even matter, since they actually cancel out.

>>359794
>not canceling out (1-a^2) as you multiply
wut r u doing

>>359803
Fuck. You're right. Missed that

>>359774
if you see that (1+a)(1-a) will be a common factor, you may also simply multiply nominator and denominator by this term and you obtain

(2(1+a) + 2(1-a) ) / (2(1-a) - 2(1+a)) = 4 / -4a = -1/a