Question

Which expression is equivalent to StartFraction 4 a + 4 Over 2 a EndFraction times StartFraction a squared Over a + 1 EndFraction?
StartFraction 2 (a + 1) squared Over a cubed EndFraction
6a
2a
StartFraction 6 a squared Over a + 1 EndFraction

Answer 1

Start with (4a+4)/(2a) * (a^2)/(a+1). Factor 4a+4 = 4(a+1):

[4(a+1) * a^2] / [2a * (a+1)].

Cancel (a+1) and simplify 4a^2/(2a) = 2a. (Domain: a ≠ 0, −1.) So the equivalent expression is 2a.