Question 174577

{{{(-2x - 8)/(x^2+2x - 8)}}}
<pre><font size = 4 color = "indigo"><b>
Factor out -2 on top, and factor
the bottom trinomial:

{{{(-2(x + 4))/((x+4)(x-2))}}}

Cancel:

{{{(-2cross((x + 4)))/(cross((x+4))(x-2))}}}

All that's left is:

{{{(-2)/(x-2)}}}

You can leave it like that, or you can make
it slightly shorter by multiplying top and 
bottom by {{{((-1))/((-1))}}}

{{{((-1)(-2))/((-1)(x-2))}}}

{{{2/(-x+2)}}}

Then reverse the terms in the bottom and
you've saved one sign:

{{{2/(2-x)}}}

But your teacher will probably just expect
you to leave it as:

{{{(-2)/(x-2)}}}

Edwin</pre>