document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1199801>Question 1199801</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Simplify the following algebraic fraction :<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(a^2-3a-4)/(a^2-4) x  (2-a-a^2) /(a^2-1)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "answer: (4-a)/(a-2)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "how is this worked out ? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #833771 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=josgarithmetic><B>josgarithmetic(39618)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=josgarithmetic><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/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=833771\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> (a^2-3a-4)/(a^2-4) x (2-a-a^2) /(a^2-1)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28%28a%5E2-3a-4%29%2F%28a%5E2-4%29%29%28%282-a-a%5E2%29+%2F%28a%5E2-1%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28%28a%5E2-3a-4%29%2F%28a%5E2-4%29%29%28%282-a-a%5E2%29+%2F%28a%5E2-1%29%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "You need to know how to factorize degree-two trinomials and difference of squares.  (and understand convenience of -1 as a factor).\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28%28a%5E2-3a-4%29%28-1%29%28a%5E2%2Ba-2%29%29%2F%28%28a%5E2-4%29%28a%5E2-1%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28%28a%5E2-3a-4%29%28-1%29%28a%5E2%2Ba-2%29%29%2F%28%28a%5E2-4%29%28a%5E2-1%29%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28%28a-4%29%28a%2B1%29%28-1%29%28a%2B2%29%28a-1%29%29%2F%28%28a%2B2%29%28a-2%29%28a%2B1%29%28a-1%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Look for and cancel factors of 1, numerator and denominator same factor\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28%28a-4%29cross%28%28a%2B1%29%29%28-1%29cross%28%28a%2B2%29%29%28a-1%29%29%2F%28%28a%2B2%29cross%28%28a-2%29%29cross%28%28a%2B1%29%29%28a-1%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28%28-1%29%28a-4%29%28a-1%29%29%2F%28%28a%2B2%29%28a-1%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28%28-1%29%28a-4%29%28a-1%29%29%2F%28%28a%2B2%29%28a-1%29%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28%28-1%29%28a-4%29cross%28%28a-1%29%29%29%2F%28%28a%2B2%29cross%28%28a-1%29%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28%28-1%29%28a-4%29cross%28%28a-1%29%29%29%2F%28%28a%2B2%29cross%28%28a-1%29%29%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "and then,.....!\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "PROBLEM:  There appears to be one or two mistakes there.  Pure text is very difficult to work with.  This kind of arithmetic works better on paper with pencil.   </SPAN>\n" );
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