+0  
 
0
585
1
avatar

Hello!

 

How do you find the answer to: (b^2-2ab+a^2) / 2(a-b)

 

The answer is: (a-b) / 2

 

When I do it though I keep getting 1 as the answer:

 

(b^2-2ab+a^2) / 2(a-b)  =   (a-b)^2 / 2(a-b)  =   (a-b)^2 / (a-b)^2    =   1

 

What am I doing wrong?

 

Thanks in advance!

 Feb 12, 2017
 #1
avatar+37146 
0

2 (a-b)   does not equal  (a-b)^2   is your wrong turn

 

(b^2-2ab+a^2) / 2(a-b) =

(b-a)^2 / (2(a-b) =

(b-a)^2 /(-2(b-a)) =

(b-a) / -2 =

(a-b)/2

1/2 (a-b)

 Feb 12, 2017
edited by ElectricPavlov  Feb 12, 2017

2 Online Users

avatar