Question 168685


{{{(-2x-8)/(x^2+2x-8)}}} Start with the given expression.



{{{(-2(x+4))/(x^2+2x-8)}}} Factor the GCF -2 from {{{-2x-8}}} to get {{{-2(x+4)}}}.



{{{(-2(x+4))/((x+4)(x-2))}}} Factor {{{x^2+2x-8}}} to get {{{(x+4)(x-2)}}}.



{{{(-2highlight((x+4)))/(highlight((x+4))(x-2))}}} Highlight the common terms. 



{{{(-2cross((x+4)))/(cross((x+4))(x-2))}}} Cancel out the common terms. 



{{{-2/(x-2)}}} Simplify. 



So {{{(-2x-8)/(x^2+2x-8)}}} simplifies to {{{-2/(x-2)}}}.



In other words, {{{(-2x-8)/(x^2+2x-8)=-2/(x-2)}}} where {{{x<>-4}}} or {{{x<>2}}}