Question 268633
{{{(14x^2-686)/(4x^2-196)}}}
To simplify the fraction we need to factor the numerator and denominator. And when factoring, always start with the Greatest Common Factor (GCF). The GCF of the numerator is 14 and in the denominator it is 4:
{{{14(x^2-49)/4(x^2-49)}}}
Normally we would continue factoring. But we can already see a common factor between the numerator and denominator. So we will split the fraction into two:
{{{(14/4)((x^2-49)/(x^2-49))}}}
We can also find a common factor between 14 and 4:
{{{((7*2)/(2*2))((x^2-49)/(x^2-49))}}}
which we can now split out:
{{{(7/2)(2/2)((x^2-49)/(x^2-49))}}}
The last two fractions are 1's:
{{{(7/2)*1*1}}}
which leaves
{{{7/2}}} as the simplified fraction.