Find the quotient. Write your answer in simplest form.

Start Fraction 4 x squared minus 9 over 6 x squared plus 13 x plus 6 End Fraction divided by Start Fraction 4 x squared minus 1 over 6 x squared plus x minus 2 End Fraction
(1 point)
Responses

Start Fraction 2 x plus 3 over 3 x plus 2 End Fraction
Image with alt text: Start Fraction 2 x plus 3 over 3 x plus 2 End Fraction

Start Fraction 2 x minus 3 over 2 x plus 1 End Fraction
Image with alt text: Start Fraction 2 x minus 3 over 2 x plus 1 End Fraction

Start Fraction 2 x minus 3 over 2 x minus 1 End Fraction
Image with alt text: Start Fraction 2 x minus 3 over 2 x minus 1 End Fraction

Start Fraction 3 x plus 2 over 2 x plus 1 End Fraction
Image with alt text: Start Fraction 3 x plus 2 over 2 x plus 1 End Fraction

1 answer

To find the quotient of the two fractions

\[ \frac{4x^2 - 9}{6x^2 + 13x + 6} \div \frac{4x^2 - 1}{6x^2 + x - 2}, \]

we start by multiplying by the reciprocal of the second fraction:

\[ \frac{4x^2 - 9}{6x^2 + 13x + 6} \times \frac{6x^2 + x - 2}{4x^2 - 1}. \]

Next, we can factor the expressions in each fraction where applicable.

  1. Factoring \(4x^2 - 9\):

    • This is a difference of squares: \[ 4x^2 - 9 = (2x - 3)(2x + 3). \]
  2. Factoring \(6x^2 + 13x + 6\):

    • We look for two numbers that multiply to \(6 \cdot 6 = 36\) and add to \(13\). The numbers are \(9\) and \(4\): \[ 6x^2 + 9x + 4x + 6 = 3x(2x + 3) + 2(2x + 3) = (3x + 2)(2x + 3). \]
  3. Factoring \(6x^2 + x - 2\):

    • We look for two numbers that multiply to \(6 \cdot -2 = -12\) and add to \(1\). The numbers are \(4\) and \(-3\): \[ 6x^2 + 4x - 3x - 2 = 2x(3x + 2) - 1(3x + 2) = (2x - 1)(3x + 2). \]
  4. Factoring \(4x^2 - 1\):

    • This is also a difference of squares: \[ 4x^2 - 1 = (2x - 1)(2x + 1). \]

Now substituting these factored forms back into our expression gives us:

\[ \frac{(2x - 3)(2x + 3)}{(3x + 2)(2x + 3)} \times \frac{(2x - 1)(3x + 2)}{(2x - 1)(2x + 1)}. \]

Next, we can cancel the common factors:

  • The \( (3x + 2) \) from the numerator of the second fraction and the denominator of the first fraction.
  • The \( (2x - 1) \) from the numerator of the second fraction and the denominator of the second fraction.
  • The \( (2x + 3) \) from the numerator of the first fraction and the denominator of the first fraction.

This simplifies to:

\[ \frac{(2x - 3)}{(2x + 1)}. \]

Thus, the final answer in simplest form is:

\[ \frac{2x - 3}{2x + 1}. \]

So the correct response is:

\[ \text{Start Fraction } 2x - 3 \text{ over } 2x + 1 \text{ End Fraction}. \]