Question 285968: I am still very confused on how to simplify rational expressions: This is the problem I am working on
x-4
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x^2-3x-4 Found 2 solutions by richwmiller, josmiceli:Answer by richwmiller(17219) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! The best way to write this for us is
(x-4)/(x^2-3x-4)
This way clarifies for us exactly what is the numerator and what is the denominator
To make it look nice surround it by 3 { and 3}
My guess just looking at it would be that x-4 might be a factor of (x^2-3x-4)
so we are looking for factors of -4 which add up to -3,
-4 and 1 work
(x-4)*(x+1)= (x^2-3x-4)
(x-4)/(x^2-3x-4) =
(x-4)/x-4)*(x+1)=
1/x+1
You can put this solution on YOUR website! I think you're confused about what
is a factor and what's not.
Suppose you had this fraction:
The 4 11's on top- cancel the 4 11's
on the bottom.
Now suppose you had
You've still got 7 factors on top and 5 factors on the bottom
Each of the 's is a factor and the 4 on the bottom cancel the 4 on the top.
Your problem is:
The bottom factors to so, you have
If your problem is factoring the denominator, you just
have to keep backtracking until you clear up all confusions
