Hi guys, I have (1/a(a-b)(a-c)) + (1/b(b-a)(b-a)) + (1/c(c-a)(c-b)) and since the numerator is the same, I'll just have to work on the denumerators, find the LCD that is. By only looking at it I've got 1/abc. I'd like to know if you can sugest a way to simplify this expression with more details. Thanks in advance.

in Algebra 1 Answers by Level 1 User (160 points)

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Let's work out the LCD. First we need a, b and c in the denominator, so that gives us abc as one factor.

I have the feeling that the middle term should be (1/b(b-a)(b-c)) by symmetry with the other terms.

Let's assume that's what it is and let's change the sign of the middle term to minus:

1/a(a-b)(a-c)-1/b(a-b)(b-c)+1/c(a-c)(b-c). Notice I changed the last term to keep the variables in alphabetical order. This makes it easier to see what we're doing.

Back to the LCD. We had abc as a factor. Now it's easy to see what the other factors are: (a-b)(b-c)(a-c).

So the LCD is abc(a-b)(b-c)(a-c).

So the numerator becomes: bc(b-c)-ac(a-c)+ab(a-b). See the pattern?

Now expand the numerator: b^2c-bc^2-a^2c+ac^2+a^2b-ab^2.

The final fraction is: 

(b^2c-bc^2-a^2c+ac^2+a^2b-ab^2)/(abc(a-b)(b-c)(a-c)).

I suspect that more is possible, because of the symmetry.

Let's expand (a-b)(b-c)(a-c)=a^2b-a^2c-ab^2+abc-abc+ac^2+b^2c-bc^2. Recognise this? It's the same as the numerator, because abc cancels out. So we are left with 1/abc.

If we let a=1, b=2, c=3 and substitute these in the original expression see get 1/2-1/2+1/6=1/abc.

by Top Rated User (1.2m points)
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Thank you :)

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