document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=285968>Question 285968</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> I am still very confused on how to simplify rational expressions: This is the problem I am working on\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "    x-4<BR>\n" );
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document.write( " x^2-3x-4 </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #207363 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=josmiceli><B>josmiceli(19441)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=josmiceli><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=josmiceli><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=207363\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> I think you're confused about what <BR>\n" );
document.write( "is a factor and what's not.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Suppose you had this fraction:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%286%2A6%2A6%2A11%2A11%2A11%2A11%29%2F%28377%2A11%2A11%2A11%2A11%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%286%2A6%2A6%2A11%2A11%2A11%2A11%29%2F%28377%2A11%2A11%2A11%2A11%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "The 4 11's on top- cancel the 4 11's<BR>\n" );
document.write( "on the bottom.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Now suppose you had<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%286%2A6%2A6%2A%28x-11%29%2A%28x-11%29%2A%28x-11%29%2A%28x-11%29%29%2F%28377%2A%28x-11%29%2A%28x-11%29%2A%28x-11%29%2A%28x-11%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "You've still got 7 factors on top and 5 factors on the bottom<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Each of the <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x-11 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x-11\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >'s is a factor and the 4 on the bottom cancel the 4 on the top.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Your problem is:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28x-4%29%2F%28x%5E2+-+3x+-+4%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28x-4%29%2F%28x%5E2+-+3x+-+4%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "The bottom factors to<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28x+-+4%29%2A%28x+%2B1%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28x+-+4%29%2A%28x+%2B1%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > so, you have<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28x-4%29%2F%28%28x-4%29%2A%28x%2B1%29%29+=+1%2F%28x%2B1%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28x-4%29%2F%28%28x-4%29%2A%28x%2B1%29%29+=+1%2F%28x%2B1%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > <BR>\n" );
document.write( "If your problem is factoring the denominator, you just<BR>\n" );
document.write( "have to keep backtracking until you clear up all confusions<BR>\n" );
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