document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=153544>Question 153544</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Please help me solve the following problem:<BR>\n" );
document.write( " Simplify the expression (x^2 - 9)/(x^2 + 3x)\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "My attempt to this problem was to cancel out the x^2 because they divided each other, and then i simplified -9/3x to -3x. But when i check to see if my work is correct by substituting x for 2, the answers did not match. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #113024 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Fombitz><B>Fombitz(32388)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Fombitz><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=Fombitz><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=113024\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Remember the expression in the parentheses is a unique expression. <BR>\n" );
document.write( "You can only divide or cancel out terms, inside parentheses, if they match exactly. <BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28x%5E2+-+9%29%2F%28x%5E2+%2B+3x%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28x%5E2+-+9%29%2F%28x%5E2+%2B+3x%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "You can factor the top term,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2-9=%28x%2B3%29%28x-3%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2-9=%28x%2B3%29%28x-3%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "and also the bottom one,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2%2B3x=x%28x%2B3%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2%2B3x=x%28x%2B3%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28x%5E2+-+9%29%2F%28x%5E2+%2B+3x%29=%28%28x%2B3%29%28x-3%29%29%2F%28x%28x%2B3%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28x%5E2+-+9%29%2F%28x%5E2+%2B+3x%29=%28%28x%2B3%29%28x-3%29%29%2F%28x%28x%2B3%29%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28x%5E2+-+9%29%2F%28x%5E2+%2B+3x%29=%28cross%28x%2B3%29%28x-3%29%29%2F%28x%2Across%28%28x%2B3%29%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28x%5E2+-+9%29%2F%28x%5E2+%2B+3x%29=%28x-3%29%2Fx ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28x%5E2+-+9%29%2F%28x%5E2+%2B+3x%29=%28x-3%29%2Fx\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );