The Denominator of the Expression

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 23 views

Introduction

When dealing with rational expressions, it's essential to understand the values of the variable that make the expression undefined. In this case, we're given the expression $\frac{x-5}{x^2-2x-5}$ , and we need to find the values of $x$ for which this expression is not defined. To do this, we'll examine the denominator of the expression, as a rational expression is undefined when its denominator is equal to zero.

The Denominator of the Expression

The denominator of the expression $\frac{x-5}{x^2-2x-5}$ is the quadratic expression $x^2-2x-5$ . To find the values of $x$ that make this expression equal to zero, we can set it equal to zero and solve for $x$ . This will give us the values of $x$ that make the denominator zero, and therefore, the expression undefined.

Solving the Quadratic Equation

To solve the quadratic equation $x^2-2x-5=0$ , we can use the quadratic formula:

x=\frac{-b\pm\sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a}

In this case, $a=1$ , $b=-2$ , and $c=-5$ . Plugging these values into the quadratic formula, we get:

x=\frac{-(-2)\pm\sqrt{(-2)^2-4(1)(-5)}}{2(1)}

Simplifying this expression, we get:

x=\frac{2\pm\sqrt{4+20}}{2}

x=\frac{2\pm\sqrt{24}}{2}

x=\frac{2\pm2\sqrt{6}}{2}

x=1\pm\sqrt{6}

The Values of $x$ that Make the Expression Undefined

The values of $x$ that make the expression $\frac{x-5}{x^2-2x-5}$ undefined are the values that make the denominator $x^2-2x-5$ equal to zero. From the previous section, we found that these values are $x=1+\sqrt{6}$ and $x=1-\sqrt{6}$ .

Conclusion

In conclusion, the expression $\frac{x-5}{x^2-2x-5}$ is not defined for the values of $x$ that make the denominator $x^2-2x-5$ equal to zero. These values are $x=1+\sqrt{6}$ and $x=1-\sqrt{6}$ .

Final Answer

The final answer is $\boxed{1+\sqrt{6}, 1-\sqrt{6}}$ .

Additional Information

It's worth noting that the values of $x$ that make the expression undefined are the values that make the denominator zero. This is because a rational expression is undefined when its denominator is equal to zero. In this case, the denominator is the quadratic expression $x^2-2x-5$ , and the values of $x$ that make this expression equal to zero are $x=1+\sqrt{6}$ and $x=1-\sqrt{6}$ .

Real-World Applications

Understanding the values of $x$ that make a rational expression undefined is crucial in various real-world applications, such as:

Engineering: In engineering, rational expressions are used to model real-world systems, and understanding the values of $x$ that make these expressions undefined is essential for designing and analyzing these systems.
Physics: In physics, rational expressions are used to model physical systems, and understanding the values of $x$ that make these expressions undefined is essential for predicting the behavior of these systems.
Economics: In economics, rational expressions are used to model economic systems, and understanding the values of $x$ that make these expressions undefined is essential for analyzing and predicting the behavior of these systems.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, the expression $\frac{x-5}{x^2-2x-5}$ is not defined for the values of $x$ that make the denominator $x^2-2x-5$ equal to zero. These values are $x=1+\sqrt{6}$ and $x=1-\sqrt{6}$ . Understanding the values of $x$ that make a rational expression undefined is crucial in various real-world applications, and it's essential to be able to solve quadratic equations to find these values.

Introduction

In our previous article, we discussed the values of $x$ that make the expression $\frac{x-5}{x^2-2x-5}$ undefined. We found that the values of $x$ that make the denominator $x^2-2x-5$ equal to zero are $x=1+\sqrt{6}$ and $x=1-\sqrt{6}$ . In this article, we'll answer some frequently asked questions about this topic.

Q: What is the significance of the values of $x$ that make the expression undefined?

A: The values of $x$ that make the expression undefined are the values that make the denominator equal to zero. This is because a rational expression is undefined when its denominator is equal to zero. In this case, the denominator is the quadratic expression $x^2-2x-5$ , and the values of $x$ that make this expression equal to zero are $x=1+\sqrt{6}$ and $x=1-\sqrt{6}$ .

Q: How do you find the values of $x$ that make the expression undefined?

A: To find the values of $x$ that make the expression undefined, you need to set the denominator equal to zero and solve for $x$ . This will give you the values of $x$ that make the expression undefined.

Q: What is the difference between the values of $x$ that make the expression undefined and the values of $x$ that make the expression equal to zero?

A: The values of $x$ that make the expression undefined are the values that make the denominator equal to zero. The values of $x$ that make the expression equal to zero are the values that make the numerator equal to zero. In this case, the numerator is the linear expression $x-5$ , and the values of $x$ that make this expression equal to zero are $x=5$ .

Q: Can you provide an example of a real-world application of the values of $x$ that make the expression undefined?

A: Yes, one example of a real-world application of the values of $x$ that make the expression undefined is in engineering. In engineering, rational expressions are used to model real-world systems, and understanding the values of $x$ that make these expressions undefined is essential for designing and analyzing these systems.

Q: How do you determine if a rational expression is undefined or not?

A: To determine if a rational expression is undefined or not, you need to check if the denominator is equal to zero. If the denominator is equal to zero, then the expression is undefined. Otherwise, the expression is defined.

Q: Can you provide a step-by-step guide on how to find the values of $x$ that make the expression undefined?

A: Yes, here is a step-by-step guide on how to find the values of $x$ that make the expression undefined:

Set the denominator equal to zero.
Solve for $x$ .
Check if the values of $x$ that make the denominator equal to zero are the values that make the expression undefined.

Q: What is the difference between the values of $x$ that make the expression undefined and the values of $x$ that make the expression undefined in a different context?

A: The values of $x$ that make the expression undefined are the values that make the denominator equal to zero. However, in a different context, the values of $x$ that make the expression undefined may be different. For example, in a different context, the values of $x$ that make the expression undefined may be the values that make the numerator equal to zero.

Q: Can you provide an example of a rational expression that is undefined for a specific value of $x$ ?

A: Yes, one example of a rational expression that is undefined for a specific value of $x$ is the expression $\frac{x-5}{x^2-2x-5}$ . This expression is undefined for the values of $x$ that make the denominator $x^2-2x-5$ equal to zero, which are $x=1+\sqrt{6}$ and $x=1-\sqrt{6}$ .

Q: How do you determine if a rational expression is undefined or not in a specific context?

A: To determine if a rational expression is undefined or not in a specific context, you need to check if the denominator is equal to zero in that context. If the denominator is equal to zero in that context, then the expression is undefined in that context. Otherwise, the expression is defined in that context.

Q: Can you provide a summary of the key points discussed in this article?

A: Yes, here is a summary of the key points discussed in this article:

The values of $x$ that make the expression $\frac{x-5}{x^2-2x-5}$ undefined are the values that make the denominator $x^2-2x-5$ equal to zero.
The values of $x$ that make the denominator $x^2-2x-5$ equal to zero are $x=1+\sqrt{6}$ and $x=1-\sqrt{6}$ .
To find the values of $x$ that make the expression undefined, you need to set the denominator equal to zero and solve for $x$ .
The values of $x$ that make the expression undefined are different from the values of $x$ that make the expression equal to zero.
Understanding the values of $x$ that make a rational expression undefined is crucial in various real-world applications.