Answer:
[tex]\displaystyle p(x) + q(x) = \frac{2x}{(x+1)(x-1)}[/tex]
The result is indeed another rational expression.
Step-by-step explanation:
We are given the two functions:
[tex]\displaystyle p(x) = \frac{1}{x+1}\text{ and } q(x) = \frac{1}{x-1}[/tex]
And we want to perform the operation:
[tex]\displaystyle p(x) + q(x)[/tex]
And show that the result is another rational expression.
Add:
[tex]\displaystyle = \frac{1}{x+1} + \frac{1}{x-1}[/tex]
To combine the fractions, we will need a common denominator. So, we can multiply the first fraction by (x - 1) and the second by (x + 1):
[tex]\displaystyle = \frac{1}{x+1}\left(\frac{x-1}{x-1}\right) + \frac{1}{x-1}\left(\frac{x+1}{x+1}\right)[/tex]
Simplify:
[tex]=\displaystyle \frac{x-1}{(x+1)(x-1)} + \frac{x+1}{(x+1)(x-1)}[/tex]
Add:
[tex]\displaystyle = \frac{(x-1)+(x+1)}{(x+1)(x-1)}[/tex]
Simplify. Hence:
[tex]\displaystyle p(x) + q(x) = \frac{2x}{(x+1)(x-1)}[/tex]
The result is indeed another rational expression.
