Describe the error made in subtracting the two rational expressions shown:

Answer:

The error occurred when subtracting the numerators. The student failed to distribute the negative sign to both terms of the second numerator. The correct subtraction should be (x + 1) - (x - 2) = x + 1 - x + 2 = 3. The student likely calculated x + 1 - x - 2, which resulted in -1.