document.write( "Question 166667: please help me express the following rational expressions in lowest terms.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "1) y^2-y-12/y^2-9\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "2) 3x^2-6x-72/2x^2-8x-64\r
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Algebra.Com's Answer #122839 by jim_thompson5910(35256)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The key to these type of problems is factoring.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"%28y%5E2-y-12%29%2F%28y%5E2-9%29\" Start with the given expression.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"%28%28y%2B3%29%28y-4%29%29%2F%28y%5E2-9%29\" Factor \"y%5E2-y-12\" to get \"%28y%2B3%29%2A%28y-4%29\".\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"%28%28y%2B3%29%28y-4%29%29%2F%28%28y-3%29%28y%2B3%29%29\" Factor \"y%5E2-9\" to get \"%28y-3%29%2A%28y%2B3%29\".\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"%28highlight%28%28y%2B3%29%29%28y-4%29%29%2F%28%28y-3%29highlight%28%28y%2B3%29%29%29\" Highlight the common terms. \r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"%28cross%28%28y%2B3%29%29%28y-4%29%29%2F%28%28y-3%29cross%28%28y%2B3%29%29%29\" Cancel out the common terms. \r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"%28y-4%29%2F%28y-3%29\" Simplify. \r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So \"%28y%5E2-y-12%29%2F%28y%5E2-9%29\" simplifies to \"%28y-4%29%2F%28y-3%29\".\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "In other words, \"%28y%5E2-y-12%29%2F%28y%5E2-9%29=%28%28y-4%29%29%2F%28%28y-3%29%29\" where \"y%3C%3E3\" or \"y%3C%3E-3\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"%283x%5E2-6x-72%29%2F%282x%5E2-8x-64%29\" Start with the given expression.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"%283%28x%2B4%29%28x-6%29%29%2F%282x%5E2-8x-64%29\" Factor \"3x%5E2-6x-72\" to get \"3%2A%28x%2B4%29%2A%28x-6%29\".\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"%283%28x%2B4%29%28x-6%29%29%2F%282%28x%2B4%29%28x-8%29%29\" Factor \"2x%5E2-8x-64\" to get \"2%2A%28x%2B4%29%2A%28x-8%29\".\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " Highlight the common terms. \r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"%28%283%29cross%28%28x%2B4%29%29%28x-6%29%29%2F%28%282%29cross%28%28x%2B4%29%29%28x-8%29%29\" Cancel out the common terms. \r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"%283%28x-6%29%29%2F%282%28x-8%29%29\" Simplify. \r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"%283x-18%29%2F%282x-16%29\" Distribute\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So \"%283x%5E2-6x-72%29%2F%282x%5E2-8x-64%29\" simplifies to \"%283x-18%29%2F%282x-16%29\".\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "In other words, \"%283x%5E2-6x-72%29%2F%282x%5E2-8x-64%29=%283x-18%29%2F%282x-16%29\" where \"x%3C%3E-4\" or \"x%3C%3E8\"
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