Simplify the expression: left parenthesis Start Fraction 2 x squared minus 5 x minus 3 over x squared plus x minus 20 End Fraction right parenthesis left parenthesis Start Fraction x squared plus 8 x plus 15 over 2 x squared plus 9 x plus 4 End Fraction right parenthesis

(1 point)
Responses

Start Fraction x squared minus 9 over x squared minus 16 End Fraction
Image with alt text: Start Fraction x squared minus 9 over x squared minus 16 End Fraction

Start Fraction 9 over 16 End Fraction
Image with alt text: Start Fraction 9 over 16 End Fraction

Start Fraction x squared minus 6 x plus 9 over x squared minus 8 x plus 16 End Fraction
Image with alt text: Start Fraction x squared minus 6 x plus 9 over x squared minus 8 x plus 16 End Fraction

Start Fraction x squared plus 6 x plus 9 over x squared plus 8 x plus 16 End Fraction

1 answer

To simplify the given expression

\[ \left( \frac{2x^2 - 5x - 3}{x^2 + x - 20} \right) \left( \frac{x^2 + 8x + 15}{2x^2 + 9x + 4} \right), \]

we need to factor all the polynomials involved.

  1. Factoring \(2x^2 - 5x - 3\):

    To factor \(2x^2 - 5x - 3\), we look for two numbers that multiply to \(2 \times -3 = -6\) and add to \(-5\). The numbers are \(-6\) and \(1\). \[ 2x^2 - 6x + x - 3 = 2x(x - 3) + 1(x - 3) = (2x + 1)(x - 3). \]

  2. Factoring \(x^2 + x - 20\):

    For \(x^2 + x - 20\), we want two numbers that multiply to \(-20\) and add up to \(1\). The numbers are \(5\) and \(-4\). \[ x^2 + 5x - 4x - 20 = (x + 5)(x - 4). \]

  3. Factoring \(x^2 + 8x + 15\):

    Here we need two numbers that multiply to \(15\) and add to \(8\). The numbers are \(3\) and \(5\). \[ x^2 + 8x + 15 = (x + 3)(x + 5). \]

  4. Factoring \(2x^2 + 9x + 4\):

    Lastly, for \(2x^2 + 9x + 4\), we find two numbers that multiply to \(2 \times 4 = 8\) and add to \(9\). The numbers are \(8\) and \(1\). \[ 2x^2 + 8x + x + 4 = 2x(x + 4) + 1(x + 4) = (2x + 1)(x + 4). \]

Now, substituting these factors back into the expression, we have:

\[ \frac{(2x + 1)(x - 3)}{(x + 5)(x - 4)} \cdot \frac{(x + 3)(x + 5)}{(2x + 1)(x + 4)}. \]

Next, we can cancel out the common factors:

  • \( (2x + 1) \)
  • \( (x + 5) \)

Thus, what remains is:

\[ \frac{(x - 3)(x + 3)}{(x - 4)(x + 4)}. \]

Now, we notice that \( (x - 3)(x + 3) = x^2 - 9 \) and \( (x - 4)(x + 4) = x^2 - 16 \).

So the simplified expression is:

\[ \frac{x^2 - 9}{x^2 - 16}. \]

Thus, the answer is

\[ \boxed{\frac{x^2 - 9}{x^2 - 16}}. \]