SOLUTION: Simplify : (6-a-a^2)/(a^2-4) So I factor to cancel terms (2-a)(3+a)/(a+2)(a-2) And so I get (3+a)/(a+2) BUT The answer on the book is (-3+a)/(a+2) Where did the n

Question 1206053: Simplify :
(6-a-a^2)/(a^2-4)
So I factor to cancel terms
(2-a)(3+a)/(a+2)(a-2)
And so I get
(3+a)/(a+2)
BUT
The answer on the book is
(-3+a)/(a+2)
Where did the negative sign come from ?
Please help.thanks In advance !
Found 2 solutions by mananth, greenestamps:
Answer by mananth(16946) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
(6-a-a^2)/(a^2-4)

(6-3a+2a-a^2)/(a+2)(a-2)

(3(2-a)+a(2-a))/(a+2)(a-2)

(3+a)(2-a)/(a+2)(a-2)
Bring the negative sign out and change sign of (2-a) to (a-2)

-(3+a)(a-2)/(a+2)(a-2) Cancel off (a-2)

-(3+a)/(a+2)

Answer by greenestamps(13198) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!

I hope you mean the answer in the book is and not ....

In the work you show, you have....

and then

That means you canceled the factors and .

But those factor are not the same; they are opposites:

So

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