Question

$$\frac { 11 } { m + 3 } = \frac { 5 } { 2 m } - \frac { 1 } { m - 4 }$$

Answer

$$m=(17677+sqrt(17677^2-1060560))/8838,(17677-sqrt(17677^2-1060560))/8838$$

Solution


Multiply both sides by the Least Common Denominator: \(2m(m+3)(m-4)\).
\[4422m(m-4)=5(m+3)(m-4)-2m(m+3)\]
Simplify.
\[4422{m}^{2}-17688m=3{m}^{2}-11m-60\]
Move all terms to one side.
\[4422{m}^{2}-17688m-3{m}^{2}+11m+60=0\]
Simplify  \(4422{m}^{2}-17688m-3{m}^{2}+11m+60\)  to  \(4419{m}^{2}-17677m+60\).
\[4419{m}^{2}-17677m+60=0\]
Use the Quadratic Formula.
\[m=\frac{17677+\sqrt{{17677}^{2}-1060560}}{8838},\frac{17677-\sqrt{{17677}^{2}-1060560}}{8838}\]

Decimal Form: 3.996829, 0.003397