SOLUTION: We are in rational expressions I do not understand this one I have (x+1)(x+3) for my final answer x^2+2x-15 ---------- x^2-9 ---------- x^2+6x+5 ---------- x^2+4x+3 Pl

Algebra ->  Expressions -> SOLUTION: We are in rational expressions I do not understand this one I have (x+1)(x+3) for my final answer x^2+2x-15 ---------- x^2-9 ---------- x^2+6x+5 ---------- x^2+4x+3 Pl      Log On


   

Question 57652: We are in rational expressions I do not understand this one I have (x+1)(x+3)
for my final answer
x^2+2x-15
----------
x^2-9
----------
x^2+6x+5
----------
x^2+4x+3
Please show me steps so I can see where I went wrong Thanks, dnn
Answer by funmath(2933) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Hi dnn,
Is this the same problem you had earlier? You did a much better job of showing where your fractions began and ended this time. Icouldn't answer your last question.
First factor everything.
Cancel the numerators and denominators that match in the top fraction and the bottom fraction.

%28%28x%2B5%29%2F%28x%2B3%29%29%2F%28%28x%2B5%29%2F%28x%2B3%29%29 Do you see that the top fraction matches the bottom fraction exaclty? Anything divided by itself is 1
cross%28%28%28x%2B5%29%2F%28x%2B3%29%29%29%2Fcross%28%28%28x%2B5%29%2F%28x%2B3%29%29%29
highlight%281%29
I think it's so cool when something that big and complicated looking reduces down to a single term!
Happy Calculating, dnn!!!