what is the quotient (6-x)/(x^2 + 2x - 3) + (x^2 - 4x - 12)/(x^2 + 4x + 3) in simplified form? state any restrictions on the variable.

x not equal -3, -3, 1, 6
x not equal -3, -2, 6
x not equal -2, 1
x not equal -2

1 answer

To simplify the expression, let's first factorize the denominators of both fractions:

For the first fraction: (6-x)/(x^2 + 2x - 3) = (6-x)/[(x-1)(x+3)]

For the second fraction: (x^2 - 4x - 12)/(x^2 + 4x + 3) = (x^2 - 4x - 12)/[(x+3)(x+1)]

Now we rewrite the expression with the simplified fractions:

[(6-x)/[(x-1)(x+3)] + (x^2 - 4x - 12)/[(x+3)(x+1)]

To combine the fractions, we need to find a common denominator, which is (x-1)(x+1)(x+3). Rewrite each fraction with this common denominator:

(6-x)(x+1)/(x-1)(x+3)(x+1) + (x^2 - 4x - 12)(x-1)/(x+1)(x+3)(x-1)

Now we can combine the fractions into one using the common denominator:

[ (6-x)(x+1) + (x^2 - 4x - 12)(x-1) ] / [(x-1)(x+1)(x+3)]

Expand the numerator to simplify further:

[ (6x + 6 - x^2 - x) + (x^3 - x^2 - 4x^2 + 4x - 12x + 12) ] / [(x-1)(x+1)(x+3)]

Combine like terms in the numerator:

[ (5x + 6 - x^2 - x) + (x^3 - 5x^2 - 12x + 12) ] / [(x-1)(x+1)(x+3)]

Simplify it further:

[ x^3 - 6x^2 - 6x + 6 ] / [(x-1)(x+1)(x+3)]

Therefore, the simplified form of the quotient (6-x)/(x^2 + 2x - 3) + (x^2 - 4x - 12)/(x^2 + 4x + 3) is (x^3 - 6x^2 - 6x + 6)/[(x-1)(x+1)(x+3)] with the restrictions x ≠ -3, -1, 1.