document.write( "Question 473359: [ab-5a+3b-15]/[ab-5a-2b+10] How would you simplify a fraction like this or like [2-x]/[x^2-4] VERY VERY VERY confusing and I've tried a few ways but they don't make much sense please help
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Algebra.Com's Answer #324614 by Edwin McCravy(20055)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
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document.write( "What you need to practice doing is factoring by grouping,\r\n" );
document.write( "factoring the difference of two squares, and how to rewrite\r\n" );
document.write( "opposite differences.\r\n" );
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document.write( "\"%28ab-5a%2B3b-15%29%2F%28ab-5a-2b%2B10%29\" \r\n" );
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document.write( "First we need to factor the numerator and the denominator:\r\n" );
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document.write( "Factoring the numerator:\r\n" );
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document.write( "ab-5a+3b-15\r\n" );
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document.write( "Factor \"a\" out of the first two terms:\r\n" );
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document.write( "a(b-5)+3b-15\r\n" );
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document.write( "Factor \"3\" out of the last two terms:\r\n" );
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document.write( "a(b-5)+3(b-5)\r\n" );
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document.write( "Now we can factor (b-5) out of those two terms:\r\n" );
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document.write( "(b-5)(a+3)\r\n" );
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document.write( "Factoring the denominator:\r\n" );
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document.write( "ab-5a-2b+10\r\n" );
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document.write( "Factor \"a\" out of the first two terms:\r\n" );
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document.write( "a(b-5)-2b+10\r\n" );
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document.write( "Factor \"-2\" out of the last two terms:\r\n" );
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document.write( "a(b-5)-2(b-5)\r\n" );
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document.write( "Now we can factor (b-5) out of those two terms:\r\n" );
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document.write( "(b-5)(a-2)\r\n" );
document.write( "  \r\n" );
document.write( "So now \"%28ab-5a%2B3b-15%29%2F%28ab-5a-2b%2B10%29\" becomes\r\n" );
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document.write( "\"%28%28b-5%29%28a%2B3%29%29%2F%28%28b-5%29%28a-2%29%29\"\r\n" );
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document.write( "Then we can cancel the (b-5)'s\r\n" );
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document.write( "\"%28%28cross%28b-5%29%29%28a%2B3%29%29%2F%28%28cross%28b-5%29%29%28a-2%29%29\"\r\n" );
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document.write( "\"%28a%2B3%29%2F%28a-2%29\"\r\n" );
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document.write( "That's the final answer.\r\n" );
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document.write( "-------------------------------\r\n" );
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document.write( "\"%282-x%29%2F%28x%5E2-4%29\"\r\n" );
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document.write( "Rewrite the numerator:\r\n" );
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document.write( "2 - x , which is an opposite difference:\r\n" );
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document.write( "First write it in descending order\r\n" );
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document.write( "-x + 2\r\n" );
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document.write( "consider it as \r\n" );
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document.write( "-1x + 2\r\n" );
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document.write( "Factor out -1, which causes the +2 to become -2\r\n" );
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document.write( "-1(x - 2)\r\n" );
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document.write( "Now factor the denominator x² - 4 as the difference of \r\n" );
document.write( "two perfect squares x² - 2² which factors as (x - 2)(x + 2)\r\n" );
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document.write( "So now \"%282-x%29%2F%28x%5E2-4%29\" becomes\r\n" );
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document.write( "\"%28-1%28x-2%29%29%2F%28%28x-2%29%28x%2B2%29%29\"\r\n" );
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document.write( "Now you can cancel the (x-2)'s:\r\n" );
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document.write( "\"%28-1%28cross%28x-2%29%29%29%2F%28%28cross%28x-2%29%29%28x%2B2%29%29\"\r\n" );
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document.write( "And you end up with\r\n" );
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document.write( "\"%28-1%29%2F%28x%2B2%29\"\r\n" );
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document.write( "You can leave it like that, or put the negative sign out front:\r\n" );
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document.write( "\"-1%2F%28x%2B2%29\"\r\n" );
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document.write( "Edwin

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