This is of the same form as: 1/2 + 1/6 first factor the 6 into 3 x 2 1/2 + 1/ (3x2) then multiply the 1/2 by 3 3/6 + 1/6 then, since they have the same denominator, add them 3/6 + 1/6 = 4/6; then reduce to 2/3 in your case, it's exactly the same. don't let this stuff intimidate youse. 1/x - 2/ (x^2 - x) first factor the second one 1/x - 2 / [ x(x-1) ] now, one has x, the utter has x, x -1 as factors, so multiply the first by x - 1 1(x-1) / [ x (x -1)] - 2/ [x(x-1) ] now, they have the same denominator, add them: 1 (x - 1) - 2 / [x(x-1) ] x - 1 - 2 / [x(x-1) ] (x - 3 ) / [x(x-1) ] always, tony