Expert: Richard J. Raridon - 10/15/2009

Question
Aack!
I am a homeschooling mom doing Algebra I w/ my son. We are working on rational expressions. I have been working for hours on this problem and can't figure it out.
x-8  2x    2
___ =____ -
x-2  x+2
I understand that the LCD is (x-2)(x+2).
I have multipied the first term by (x+2) over (x+2). I have multiplied the second term by (x-2)over(x-2). I understand that the 3rd term needs to be multiplied by (x-2)(x+2).
I have arrived at (x-8)(x+2)=2x(x-2)-2(x-2)(x+2).
Where do I go from here? If I multiply the Left side of the equation, I get x squared -6x-16. The right side of the equation multiplies to 2x squared -4x-2x squared-2x squared -8.
Where do I go from here? I really want to understand this.
Thanks

Answer
First of all, you can write x squared as x^2.  
You didn't multiply the right side correctly.  Since (x-2)(x+2) = x^2-4, on the right side
you have -4x+8
Simplifying, you have x^2-2x-24 = 0 so x = 6,-4

If you're having this much trouble with your son at this level, what are you going to do with
Algebra II?