document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=363196>Question 363196</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Simplify the rational expression<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=4x%5E2-36 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"4x%5E2-36\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > over<BR>\n" );
document.write( "                               <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2%2B10x%2B21 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2%2B10x%2B21\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
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document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #259001 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=nyc_function><B>nyc_function(2741)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=nyc_function><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=nyc_function><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=259001\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Factor the top and bottom and then reduce the fraction as needed.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "4x^2 - 36 becomes (2x - 6)(2x + 6).\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "2x - 6 becomes 2(x - 3) and 2x + 6 becomes 2(x + 3).\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The numerator becomes [4(x - 3)(x + 3)].\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x^2 + 10x + 21 becomes [(x + 3)(x + 7)] = the denominator.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Our fraction now looks like this:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "[4(x - 3)(x + 3)]/[(x + 3)(x + 7)]\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "What do you think we need to do now?\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "We need to cancel out common terms on the top and bottom.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "I see that (x + 3) is found on the top and bottom.  So, we cancel out (x + 3) on the top and bottom.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The answer is:  4(x - 3)/(x + 7).\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Done!\r<BR>\n" );
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