(x + 3) - 4 / (x - 1) = 5 multiply through by x - 1
(x - 1)(x + 3) - 4 = 5(x - 1) simplify
x^2 + 2x - 3 - 4 = 5x - 5
x^2 + 2x - 7 = 5x - 5 add 5, subtract 5x to/from both sides
x^2 - 3x - 2 = 0 using the quadratic formula to find the solutions
3 ±√[(-3)^2- 4(1)(-2) ] 3 ±√ [ 9 + 8] 3 ±√17
________________ = _____________ = ________ = x
2(1) 2 2