Evaluate the expression for x = –1, y = 8, and z = –16. Simplify your answer.

xz
xy + y − z
=

1 answer

To evaluate the expression \( \frac{xz}{xy + y - z} \) for \( x = -1 \), \( y = 8 \), and \( z = -16 \), we will substitute the values into the expression and simplify it step by step.

  1. Substitute the values into the expression: \[ xz = (-1)(-16) = 16 \] \[ xy + y - z = (-1)(8) + 8 - (-16) \]

  2. Calculate \( xy + y - z \): \[ (-1)(8) = -8 \] Now, plug that into the expression: \[ -8 + 8 - (-16) \]

    Simplifying further: \[ -8 + 8 + 16 = 0 + 16 = 16 \]

  3. Now we have that \( xz = 16 \) and \( xy + y - z = 16 \).

  4. Substitute these values back into the original expression: \[ \frac{xz}{xy + y - z} = \frac{16}{16} = 1 \]

Thus, the simplified answer is: \[ \boxed{1} \]