To simplify the expression \( \frac{3x^2 + 2x - 5x - 2x^2 + 2}{(x - 2)(x - 1)(x + 2)(x - 2)(x + 1)(x + 2)} \), let's break it down step by step, just like you'd do in seventh grade math!
Step 1: Simplify the Numerator
First, let's focus on the top part, which is called the numerator:
\[ 3x^2 + 2x - 5x - 2x^2 + 2 \]
We can combine like terms here. Group the \(x^2\) terms together and the \(x\) terms together:
\[ (3x^2 - 2x^2) + (2x - 5x) + 2 \]
Now, let's do the calculations:
- For \(3x^2 - 2x^2\), we get \(x^2\).
- For \(2x - 5x\), we get \(-3x\).
Putting it all together, we have:
\[ x^2 - 3x + 2 \]
Step 2: Factor the Numerator
Next, we need to factor \(x^2 - 3x + 2\). We are looking for two numbers that multiply to \(2\) (the last number) and add up to \(-3\) (the middle number). Those numbers are \(-1\) and \(-2\). So, we can write:
\[ x^2 - 3x + 2 = (x - 1)(x - 2) \]
Step 3: Simplify the Denominator
Now, let's look at the bottom part, or the denominator:
\[ (x - 2)(x - 1)(x + 2)(x - 2)(x + 1)(x + 2) \]
Notice we can group the factors:
- We have two \( (x - 2) \) factors: \( (x - 2)(x - 2) = (x - 2)^2 \)
- We have two \( (x + 2) \) factors: \( (x + 2)(x + 2) = (x + 2)^2 \)
So, the denominator can be rewritten as:
\[ (x - 2)^2 (x - 1)(x + 2)^2 (x + 1) \]
Step 4: Rewrite the Whole Expression
Now we can rewrite the whole expression using what we found:
\[ \frac{(x - 1)(x - 2)}{(x - 2)^2 (x - 1)(x + 2)^2 (x + 1)} \]
Step 5: Cancel Out Common Factors
In this fraction, we can cancel out what’s the same on the top and bottom:
- The \( (x - 1) \) in the numerator and denominator cancels.
- One \( (x - 2) \) in the numerator cancels with one \( (x - 2) \) in the denominator.
After canceling, we are left with:
\[ \frac{1}{(x - 2)(x + 2)^2(x + 1)} \]
Final Answer
So, the final answer to our original expression is:
\[ \boxed{\frac{1}{(x - 2)(x + 2)^2(x + 1)}} \]
Yay! We simplified it!