document.write( "Question 276063: Why must we always be mindful of the final value of the denominator in a rational expression? For example, consider the rational expression 3x/(x2 – 16). What values in the denominator must we be mindful of? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #201278 by josmiceli(19441) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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$\"3x%2F%28x%5E2+-+16%29\"$
\n" ); document.write( "The denominator factors to $\"%28x%2B+4%29%2A%28x+-+4%29\"$
\n" ); document.write( "If $\"x\"$ is either $\"4\"$ or $\"-4\"$ ,
\n" ); document.write( "the denominator is zero, and that is not allowed
\n" ); document.write( "because the expression becomes infinity \n" ); document.write( "

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