Algebra Examples

$\frac{3}{8 m} + \frac{7}{m + 4} = \frac{m + 1}{m - 16}$

Step 1

Subtract $\frac{m + 1}{m - 16}$ from both sides of the equation.

$\frac{3}{8 m} + \frac{7}{m + 4} - \frac{m + 1}{m - 16} = 0$

Step 2

Simplify $\frac{3}{8 m} + \frac{7}{m + 4} - \frac{m + 1}{m - 16}$ .

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Step 2.1

Find the common denominator.

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Step 2.1.1

Multiply $\frac{3}{8 m}$ by $\frac{(m + 4) (m - 16)}{(m + 4) (m - 16)}$ .

$\frac{3}{8 m} \cdot \frac{(m + 4) (m - 16)}{(m + 4) (m - 16)} + \frac{7}{m + 4} - \frac{m + 1}{m - 16} = 0$

Step 2.1.2

Multiply $\frac{3}{8 m}$ by $\frac{(m + 4) (m - 16)}{(m + 4) (m - 16)}$ .

$\frac{3 ((m + 4) (m - 16))}{8 m ((m + 4) (m - 16))} + \frac{7}{m + 4} - \frac{m + 1}{m - 16} = 0$

Step 2.1.3

Multiply $\frac{7}{m + 4}$ by $\frac{8 m (m - 16)}{8 m (m - 16)}$ .

$\frac{3 ((m + 4) (m - 16))}{8 m ((m + 4) (m - 16))} + \frac{7}{m + 4} \cdot \frac{8 m (m - 16)}{8 m (m - 16)} - \frac{m + 1}{m - 16} = 0$

Step 2.1.4

Multiply $\frac{7}{m + 4}$ by $\frac{8 m (m - 16)}{8 m (m - 16)}$ .

$\frac{3 ((m + 4) (m - 16))}{8 m ((m + 4) (m - 16))} + \frac{7 (8 m (m - 16))}{(m + 4) (8 m (m - 16))} - \frac{m + 1}{m - 16} = 0$

Step 2.1.5

Multiply $\frac{m + 1}{m - 16}$ by $\frac{8 m (m + 4)}{8 m (m + 4)}$ .

$\frac{3 ((m + 4) (m - 16))}{8 m ((m + 4) (m - 16))} + \frac{7 (8 m (m - 16))}{(m + 4) (8 m (m - 16))} - (\frac{m + 1}{m - 16} \cdot \frac{8 m (m + 4)}{8 m (m + 4)}) = 0$

Step 2.1.6

Multiply $\frac{m + 1}{m - 16}$ by $\frac{8 m (m + 4)}{8 m (m + 4)}$ .

$\frac{3 ((m + 4) (m - 16))}{8 m ((m + 4) (m - 16))} + \frac{7 (8 m (m - 16))}{(m + 4) (8 m (m - 16))} - \frac{(m + 1) (8 m (m + 4))}{(m - 16) (8 m (m + 4))} = 0$

Step 2.1.7

Reorder the factors of $8 m ((m + 4) (m - 16))$ .

$\frac{3 ((m + 4) (m - 16))}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} + \frac{7 (8 m (m - 16))}{(m + 4) (8 m (m - 16))} - \frac{(m + 1) (8 m (m + 4))}{(m - 16) (8 m (m + 4))} = 0$

Step 2.1.8

Reorder the factors of $(m + 4) (8 m (m - 16))$ .

$\frac{3 ((m + 4) (m - 16))}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} + \frac{7 (8 m (m - 16))}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} - \frac{(m + 1) (8 m (m + 4))}{(m - 16) (8 m (m + 4))} = 0$

Step 2.1.9

Reorder the factors of $(m - 16) (8 m (m + 4))$ .

$\frac{3 ((m + 4) (m - 16))}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} + \frac{7 (8 m (m - 16))}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} - \frac{(m + 1) (8 m (m + 4))}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.2

Combine the numerators over the common denominator.

$\frac{3 ((m + 4) (m - 16)) + 7 (8 m (m - 16)) - (m + 1) (8 m (m + 4))}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.3

Simplify each term.

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Step 2.3.1

Expand $(m + 4) (m - 16)$ using the FOIL Method.

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Step 2.3.1.1

Apply the distributive property.

$\frac{3 (m (m - 16) + 4 (m - 16)) + 7 (8 m (m - 16)) - (m + 1) (8 m (m + 4))}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.3.1.2

Apply the distributive property.

$\frac{3 (m \cdot m + m \cdot - 16 + 4 (m - 16)) + 7 (8 m (m - 16)) - (m + 1) (8 m (m + 4))}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.3.1.3

Apply the distributive property.

$\frac{3 (m \cdot m + m \cdot - 16 + 4 m + 4 \cdot - 16) + 7 (8 m (m - 16)) - (m + 1) (8 m (m + 4))}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.3.2

Simplify and combine like terms.

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Step 2.3.2.1

Simplify each term.

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Step 2.3.2.1.1

Multiply $m$ by $m$ .

$\frac{3 (m^{2} + m \cdot - 16 + 4 m + 4 \cdot - 16) + 7 (8 m (m - 16)) - (m + 1) (8 m (m + 4))}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.3.2.1.2

Move $- 16$ to the left of $m$ .

$\frac{3 (m^{2} - 16 \cdot m + 4 m + 4 \cdot - 16) + 7 (8 m (m - 16)) - (m + 1) (8 m (m + 4))}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.3.2.1.3

Multiply $4$ by $- 16$ .

$\frac{3 (m^{2} - 16 m + 4 m - 64) + 7 (8 m (m - 16)) - (m + 1) (8 m (m + 4))}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.3.2.2

Add $- 16 m$ and $4 m$ .

$\frac{3 (m^{2} - 12 m - 64) + 7 (8 m (m - 16)) - (m + 1) (8 m (m + 4))}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.3.3

Apply the distributive property.

$\frac{3 m^{2} + 3 (- 12 m) + 3 \cdot - 64 + 7 (8 m (m - 16)) - (m + 1) (8 m (m + 4))}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.3.4

Simplify.

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Step 2.3.4.1

Multiply $- 12$ by $3$ .

$\frac{3 m^{2} - 36 m + 3 \cdot - 64 + 7 (8 m (m - 16)) - (m + 1) (8 m (m + 4))}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.3.4.2

Multiply $3$ by $- 64$ .

$\frac{3 m^{2} - 36 m - 192 + 7 (8 m (m - 16)) - (m + 1) (8 m (m + 4))}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.3.5

Apply the distributive property.

$\frac{3 m^{2} - 36 m - 192 + 7 (8 m \cdot m + 8 m \cdot - 16) - (m + 1) (8 m (m + 4))}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.3.6

Multiply $m$ by $m$ by adding the exponents.

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Step 2.3.6.1

Move $m$ .

$\frac{3 m^{2} - 36 m - 192 + 7 (8 (m \cdot m) + 8 m \cdot - 16) - (m + 1) (8 m (m + 4))}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.3.6.2

Multiply $m$ by $m$ .

$\frac{3 m^{2} - 36 m - 192 + 7 (8 m^{2} + 8 m \cdot - 16) - (m + 1) (8 m (m + 4))}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.3.7

Multiply $- 16$ by $8$ .

$\frac{3 m^{2} - 36 m - 192 + 7 (8 m^{2} - 128 m) - (m + 1) (8 m (m + 4))}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.3.8

Apply the distributive property.

$\frac{3 m^{2} - 36 m - 192 + 7 (8 m^{2}) + 7 (- 128 m) - (m + 1) (8 m (m + 4))}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.3.9

Multiply $8$ by $7$ .

$\frac{3 m^{2} - 36 m - 192 + 56 m^{2} + 7 (- 128 m) - (m + 1) (8 m (m + 4))}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.3.10

Multiply $- 128$ by $7$ .

$\frac{3 m^{2} - 36 m - 192 + 56 m^{2} - 896 m - (m + 1) (8 m (m + 4))}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.3.11

Apply the distributive property.

$\frac{3 m^{2} - 36 m - 192 + 56 m^{2} - 896 m + (- m - 1 \cdot 1) (8 m (m + 4))}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.3.12

Multiply $- 1$ by $1$ .

$\frac{3 m^{2} - 36 m - 192 + 56 m^{2} - 896 m + (- m - 1) (8 m (m + 4))}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.3.13

Apply the distributive property.

$\frac{3 m^{2} - 36 m - 192 + 56 m^{2} - 896 m + (- m - 1) (8 m \cdot m + 8 m \cdot 4)}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.3.14

Multiply $m$ by $m$ by adding the exponents.

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Step 2.3.14.1

Move $m$ .

$\frac{3 m^{2} - 36 m - 192 + 56 m^{2} - 896 m + (- m - 1) (8 (m \cdot m) + 8 m \cdot 4)}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.3.14.2

Multiply $m$ by $m$ .

$\frac{3 m^{2} - 36 m - 192 + 56 m^{2} - 896 m + (- m - 1) (8 m^{2} + 8 m \cdot 4)}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.3.15

Multiply $4$ by $8$ .

$\frac{3 m^{2} - 36 m - 192 + 56 m^{2} - 896 m + (- m - 1) (8 m^{2} + 32 m)}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.3.16

Expand $(- m - 1) (8 m^{2} + 32 m)$ using the FOIL Method.

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Step 2.3.16.1

Apply the distributive property.

$\frac{3 m^{2} - 36 m - 192 + 56 m^{2} - 896 m - m (8 m^{2} + 32 m) - 1 (8 m^{2} + 32 m)}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.3.16.2

Apply the distributive property.

$\frac{3 m^{2} - 36 m - 192 + 56 m^{2} - 896 m - m (8 m^{2}) - m (32 m) - 1 (8 m^{2} + 32 m)}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.3.16.3

Apply the distributive property.

$\frac{3 m^{2} - 36 m - 192 + 56 m^{2} - 896 m - m (8 m^{2}) - m (32 m) - 1 (8 m^{2}) - 1 (32 m)}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.3.17

Simplify and combine like terms.

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Step 2.3.17.1

Simplify each term.

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Step 2.3.17.1.1

Rewrite using the commutative property of multiplication.

$\frac{3 m^{2} - 36 m - 192 + 56 m^{2} - 896 m - 1 \cdot 8 m \cdot m^{2} - m (32 m) - 1 (8 m^{2}) - 1 (32 m)}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.3.17.1.2

Multiply $m$ by $m^{2}$ by adding the exponents.

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Step 2.3.17.1.2.1

Move $m^{2}$ .

$\frac{3 m^{2} - 36 m - 192 + 56 m^{2} - 896 m - 1 \cdot 8 (m^{2} m) - m (32 m) - 1 (8 m^{2}) - 1 (32 m)}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.3.17.1.2.2

Multiply $m^{2}$ by $m$ .

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Step 2.3.17.1.2.2.1

Raise $m$ to the power of $1$ .

$\frac{3 m^{2} - 36 m - 192 + 56 m^{2} - 896 m - 1 \cdot 8 (m^{2} m^{1}) - m (32 m) - 1 (8 m^{2}) - 1 (32 m)}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.3.17.1.2.2.2

Use the power rule $a^{m} a^{n} = a^{m + n}$ to combine exponents.

$\frac{3 m^{2} - 36 m - 192 + 56 m^{2} - 896 m - 1 \cdot 8 m^{2 + 1} - m (32 m) - 1 (8 m^{2}) - 1 (32 m)}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.3.17.1.2.3

Add $2$ and $1$ .

$\frac{3 m^{2} - 36 m - 192 + 56 m^{2} - 896 m - 1 \cdot 8 m^{3} - m (32 m) - 1 (8 m^{2}) - 1 (32 m)}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.3.17.1.3

Multiply $- 1$ by $8$ .

$\frac{3 m^{2} - 36 m - 192 + 56 m^{2} - 896 m - 8 m^{3} - m (32 m) - 1 (8 m^{2}) - 1 (32 m)}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.3.17.1.4

Rewrite using the commutative property of multiplication.

$\frac{3 m^{2} - 36 m - 192 + 56 m^{2} - 896 m - 8 m^{3} - 1 \cdot 32 m \cdot m - 1 (8 m^{2}) - 1 (32 m)}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.3.17.1.5

Multiply $m$ by $m$ by adding the exponents.

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Step 2.3.17.1.5.1

Move $m$ .

$\frac{3 m^{2} - 36 m - 192 + 56 m^{2} - 896 m - 8 m^{3} - 1 \cdot 32 (m \cdot m) - 1 (8 m^{2}) - 1 (32 m)}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.3.17.1.5.2

Multiply $m$ by $m$ .

$\frac{3 m^{2} - 36 m - 192 + 56 m^{2} - 896 m - 8 m^{3} - 1 \cdot 32 m^{2} - 1 (8 m^{2}) - 1 (32 m)}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.3.17.1.6

Multiply $- 1$ by $32$ .

$\frac{3 m^{2} - 36 m - 192 + 56 m^{2} - 896 m - 8 m^{3} - 32 m^{2} - 1 (8 m^{2}) - 1 (32 m)}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.3.17.1.7

Multiply $8$ by $- 1$ .

$\frac{3 m^{2} - 36 m - 192 + 56 m^{2} - 896 m - 8 m^{3} - 32 m^{2} - 8 m^{2} - 1 (32 m)}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.3.17.1.8

Multiply $32$ by $- 1$ .

$\frac{3 m^{2} - 36 m - 192 + 56 m^{2} - 896 m - 8 m^{3} - 32 m^{2} - 8 m^{2} - 32 m}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.3.17.2

Subtract $8 m^{2}$ from $- 32 m^{2}$ .

$\frac{3 m^{2} - 36 m - 192 + 56 m^{2} - 896 m - 8 m^{3} - 40 m^{2} - 32 m}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.4

Add $3 m^{2}$ and $56 m^{2}$ .

$\frac{59 m^{2} - 36 m - 192 - 896 m - 8 m^{3} - 40 m^{2} - 32 m}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.5

Subtract $40 m^{2}$ from $59 m^{2}$ .

$\frac{19 m^{2} - 36 m - 192 - 896 m - 8 m^{3} - 32 m}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.6

Subtract $896 m$ from $- 36 m$ .

$\frac{19 m^{2} - 932 m - 192 - 8 m^{3} - 32 m}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.7

Subtract $32 m$ from $- 932 m$ .

$\frac{19 m^{2} - 964 m - 192 - 8 m^{3}}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.8

Reorder terms.

$\frac{- 8 m^{3} + 19 m^{2} - 964 m - 192}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.9

Factor $- 1$ out of $- 8 m^{3}$ .

$\frac{- (8 m^{3}) + 19 m^{2} - 964 m - 192}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.10

Factor $- 1$ out of $19 m^{2}$ .

$\frac{- (8 m^{3}) - (- 19 m^{2}) - 964 m - 192}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.11

Factor $- 1$ out of $- (8 m^{3}) - (- 19 m^{2})$ .

$\frac{- (8 m^{3} - 19 m^{2}) - 964 m - 192}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.12

Factor $- 1$ out of $- 964 m$ .

$\frac{- (8 m^{3} - 19 m^{2}) - (964 m) - 192}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.13

Factor $- 1$ out of $- (8 m^{3} - 19 m^{2}) - (964 m)$ .

$\frac{- (8 m^{3} - 19 m^{2} + 964 m) - 192}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.14

Rewrite $- 192$ as $- 1 (192)$ .

$\frac{- (8 m^{3} - 19 m^{2} + 964 m) - 1 (192)}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.15

Factor $- 1$ out of $- (8 m^{3} - 19 m^{2} + 964 m) - 1 (192)$ .

$\frac{- (8 m^{3} - 19 m^{2} + 964 m + 192)}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.16

Rewrite $- (8 m^{3} - 19 m^{2} + 964 m + 192)$ as $- 1 (8 m^{3} - 19 m^{2} + 964 m + 192)$ .

$\frac{- 1 (8 m^{3} - 19 m^{2} + 964 m + 192)}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 2.17

Move the negative in front of the fraction.

$- \frac{8 m^{3} - 19 m^{2} + 964 m + 192}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)} = 0$

Step 3

Set the denominator in $\frac{8 m^{3} - 19 m^{2} + 964 m + 192}{8 m (m + 4) (m - 16)}$ equal to $0$ to find where the expression is undefined.

$8 m (m + 4) (m - 16) = 0$

Step 4

Solve for $m$ .

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Step 4.1

If any individual factor on the left side of the equation is equal to $0$ , the entire expression will be equal to $0$ .

$m = 0$

$m + 4 = 0$

$m - 16 = 0$

Step 4.2

Set $m$ equal to $0$ .

$m = 0$

Step 4.3

Set $m + 4$ equal to $0$ and solve for $m$ .

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Step 4.3.1

Set $m + 4$ equal to $0$ .

$m + 4 = 0$

Step 4.3.2

Subtract $4$ from both sides of the equation.

$m = - 4$

Step 4.4

Set $m - 16$ equal to $0$ and solve for $m$ .

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Step 4.4.1

Set $m - 16$ equal to $0$ .

$m - 16 = 0$

Step 4.4.2

Add $16$ to both sides of the equation.

$m = 16$

Step 4.5

The final solution is all the values that make $8 m (m + 4) (m - 16) = 0$ true.

$m = 0, - 4, 16$

Step 5

The equation is undefined where the denominator equals $0$ , the argument of a square root is less than $0$ , or the argument of a logarithm is less than or equal to $0$ .

$m = - 4, m = 0, m = 16$

Step 6