Simplify.
1. x^2 - 1/2x^2 - x - 1
2. x^2 - 16/x^2 - 6x + 8
3. 6x^2 + 4x/2x^2 + 4x
My answers:
1. ???
2. x+4/x-2
3. 3x?
3 answers
For #1, i cannot figure out what 2x^2 - x - 1 factored is
I'm sure you can factor
x^2-x-2, no?
This is the same things
(2x+1)(x-1)
Not quite sure what it has to do with #1, though
#2 ok
#3. Since the top and bottom are of equal degree, there should be no unbalanced x's between the top and bottom
(6x^2+4x)/(2x^2+4x)
= 2x(3x+2) / 2x(x+2)
= (3x+2)/(x+2)
You can't just cancel the 2's. That's like saying that
8/7 = (6+2)/(5+2) = 6/5
x^2-x-2, no?
This is the same things
(2x+1)(x-1)
Not quite sure what it has to do with #1, though
#2 ok
#3. Since the top and bottom are of equal degree, there should be no unbalanced x's between the top and bottom
(6x^2+4x)/(2x^2+4x)
= 2x(3x+2) / 2x(x+2)
= (3x+2)/(x+2)
You can't just cancel the 2's. That's like saying that
8/7 = (6+2)/(5+2) = 6/5
thank you!