SOLUTION: Tutor: Can you help me simplify this expression? 9(x-7)(x+7)/3(x-7) Thank you

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Question 86907: Tutor: Can you help me simplify this expression?

9(x-7)(x+7)/3(x-7)

Thank you
Answer by bucky(2189) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Given:
.
9%28x-7%29%28x%2B7%29%2F3%28x-7%29
.
The first thing you can do is to divide the 3 in the denominator into the 9 in the numerator.
The result of this division in that you are left with a 3 in the numerator. [You can also
replace the 9 with 3*3 and then cancel the 3 in the denominator with one of the 3s in the
numerator. The result is the same ... a 3 left in the numerator.] The problem is now simplified
to:
.
3%28x-7%29%28x%2B7%29%2F%28x-7%29
.
Next you can cancel the (x-7) in the denominator with the (x-7) in the numerator.
This cancellation is as follows:
.
3%28cross%28x-7%29%29%28x%2B7%29%2F%28cross%28x-7%29%29
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And the simplification asked for by the problem is what is now leftover, and is:
.
3%28x%2B7%29
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If you want to, you can perform the distributed multiplication by 3 to get:
.
3x+%2B+21
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Either answer [3(x + 7) or 3x + 21] is correct.
.
Hope this helps you to understand the problem.
.