2x^2+7x+3/x^2-2x-15

4 answers

Do you mean..

(2x^2 +7x+3)/(x^2 -2x -15)

You have to factor the numerator and the denominator and remove the common factors.

Can you factor these or do you need help?
need help
[(2x+1)(x+3)]/[(x-5)(x+3)} = ?
Do you understand how you actually factor?

There is the guess method where you

would begin with:

x^2 -2x-15

(x- ) (x + )

I know that I need x in the front because x times x = x^2

I know that I need a plus and minus sign because 15 is negative and I will need to mulitply a + and a - number to get -15

Next, I have to think of two numbers that multiply to equal 15 and add to be -2 for the -2x portion.

It gets more complicated with 2x^2.. but it works basically the same way by guessing.