SOLUTION: What values for X must be excluded in this fraction? x-3 --------- (4x-5)(x+1) How do I figure out the values to be excluded from this fraction? Thank you

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Question 66390: What values for X must be excluded in this fraction?
x-3
---------
(4x-5)(x+1)
How do I figure out the values to be excluded from this fraction? Thank you
Answer by Earlsdon(6294) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The values of x that must be excluded are those values that would make the denominator equal zero.
Why is that important?
Because, in mathematics, division by zero is undefined! In other word it doesn't make sense, mathematically.
%28x-3%29%2F%284x-5%29%28x%2B1%29
So, in the denominator we have:
%284x-5%29%2A%28x%2B1%29 Let's take these factors one-at-a-time.
4x-5%29 To find the value of x that would make this equal zero, we just set this factor equal to zero and solve for x.
4x-5+=+0 Add 5 to both sides.
4x+=+5 Now divide both sides by 4.
x+=+5%2F4 This is one of the excluded values of x! We can find the other one by doing the same thing with the other factor.
x%2B1+=+0 Subtract 1 from both sides.
x+=+-1 This is the other excluded value of x.