SOLUTION: Okay, I've worked on this problem and I'm hoping that I got it right. Simplify X^5-6x-16x^3/ x^3-4x. My answer is x^2(x-8)/x-2...... Is that right tutors!!

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Question 233485: Okay, I've worked on this problem and I'm hoping that I got it right. Simplify X^5-6x-16x^3/ x^3-4x.
My answer is x^2(x-8)/x-2...... Is that right tutors!!
Answer by Theo(13342) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Doesn't look right.

Your equation is:

X^5-6x-16x^3/ x^3-4x.

Your denominator is equivalent to x * (x + 2) * (x - 2)

Your numerator requires more work.

x^5 - 16x^3 - 6x = x * (x^4 - 16x^2 - 6)

It doesn't appear it can be factored any more than that.

I get:

(x * (x^4 - 16x^2 - 6)) / x * (x - 2) * (x + 2)

The x cancels out and you are left with:

(x^4 - 16x^2 - 6) / ( (x-2) * (x+2) )

I confirmed by making x = 3 and got the same answer with the original equation and with the simplified equation.

Your answer of:

x^2(x-8)/x-2......

does not confirm with the original equation.

My answer would be:

(x^4 - 16x^2 - 6) / ( (x-2) * (x+2) )

That's as far as I could go with it.

Factoring the numerator would require the use of the quadratic formula which would not be a simplification.