SOLUTION: [hopefully this is the right topic... not sure...] I'm having an issue understanding the "excluded value". State the excluded values for the following expression. Then simpli

Algebra ->  College  -> Linear Algebra -> SOLUTION: [hopefully this is the right topic... not sure...] I'm having an issue understanding the "excluded value". State the excluded values for the following expression. Then simpli      Log On


   

Question 1121196: [hopefully this is the right topic... not sure...]
I'm having an issue understanding the "excluded value".
State the excluded values for the following expression. Then simplify the expression.
(k^2 - k - 30) / (k^2 - 11k + 30)
I factored it down and simplified to (k+5)/(k-5).
What would be the excluded value? Is it the x-6 that I cancelled out?
Answer by greenestamps(13198) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


The excluded values are the values of the variable for which the expression can not be evaluated.

For an algebraic fraction, the excluded values are those which make the denominator of the fraction equal to 0, because a fraction with 0 denominator can not be evaluated.

You factored the original fraction into

%28%28k%2B5%29%28k-6%29%29%2F%28%28k-5%29%28k-6%29%29

and then simplified to

%28k%2B5%29%2F%28k-5%29

But the excluded values are any which make the denominator of the ORIGINAL, UNSIMPLIFIED fraction equal to 0.

So the excluded values are both k=5 and k=6.