Perform the indicated operation.

StartFraction z squared minus 2 z minus 35 Over z squared minus 10 z plus 25 EndFraction divided by StartFraction z minus 7 Over z minus 5 EndFraction

1 answer

To perform the operation \(\frac{z^2 - 2z - 35}{z^2 - 10z + 25} \div \frac{z - 7}{z - 5}\), we first rewrite the division as multiplication by the reciprocal:

\[ \frac{z^2 - 2z - 35}{z^2 - 10z + 25} \cdot \frac{z - 5}{z - 7} \]

Next, we can factor the quadratics in the expression.

  1. Factor \(z^2 - 2z - 35\): We need two numbers that add up to \(-2\) and multiply to \(-35\). These numbers are \(5\) and \(-7\). Thus, \[ z^2 - 2z - 35 = (z - 7)(z + 5) \]

  2. Factor \(z^2 - 10z + 25\): This is a perfect square trinomial that factors to: \[ z^2 - 10z + 25 = (z - 5)^2 \]

Now we substitute the factored forms into the expression:

\[ \frac{(z - 7)(z + 5)}{(z - 5)^2} \cdot \frac{z - 5}{z - 7} \]

Next, we can simplify the expression:

  1. Cancel \(z - 7\) from the numerator and denominator: \[ \frac{(z + 5)}{(z - 5)} \cdot 1 = \frac{z + 5}{z - 5} \]

  2. Cancel \(z - 5\): Substitute \(z - 5\) from the first part of the expression. The whole fraction now simplifies to: \[ \frac{z + 5}{z - 5} \]

So, the final result is:

\[ \frac{z + 5}{z - 5} \]

This represents the simplified form of the original operation. Note that \(z \neq 5\) and \(z \neq 7\) to avoid division by zero in the original expressions.