SOLUTION: Divide and simplify if possible: ((2x+4) / (5x-20)) / ((x+2)^2 / (x-4)^2 ) I've gotten this far: (x^3+10x^2+32x+64) / (x^3-16x-20) Am I headed in the right direction? Pleas

Algebra ->  Exponents -> SOLUTION: Divide and simplify if possible: ((2x+4) / (5x-20)) / ((x+2)^2 / (x-4)^2 ) I've gotten this far: (x^3+10x^2+32x+64) / (x^3-16x-20) Am I headed in the right direction? Pleas      Log On


   

Question 774548: Divide and simplify if possible:
((2x+4) / (5x-20)) / ((x+2)^2 / (x-4)^2 )
I've gotten this far:
(x^3+10x^2+32x+64) / (x^3-16x-20)
Am I headed in the right direction? Please help!
Answer by josgarithmetic(39613) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Factor both rational expressions first. The bottom fraction is a divisor, so multiply the reciprocal of it by the top fraction. Now, cancel common factors. Once that is done, then perform multiplications to simplify the numerator and denominator.

%28%282%28x%2B2%29%29%2F%285%28x-4%29%29%29%2A%28%28x-4%29%5E2%2F%28x%2B2%29%5E2%29

%282%28x%2B2%29%28x-4%29%28x-4%29%29%2F%285%28x-4%29%28x%2B2%29%28x%2B2%29%29



Do the cancellations and the multiplications and find highlight%28%282x%5E2-4x-16%29%2F%285x%2B2%29%29