College Algebra 7th Edition

Published by Brooks Cole
ISBN 10: 1305115546
ISBN 13: 978-1-30511-554-5

Chapter P, Prerequisites - Chapter P Review - Exercises - Page 77: 78

Answer

$\dfrac{x+1}{x-4}$

Work Step by Step

Use the rule $\dfrac{a}{b} \div \dfrac{c}{d} = \dfrac{a}{b} \times \dfrac{d}{c}$ to obtain: $=\dfrac{x^2-2x-15}{x^2-6x+5} \cdot \dfrac{x^2-1}{x^2-x-12}$ Factor each polynomial completely to obtain: $=\dfrac{(x-5)(x+3)}{(x-5)(x-1)} \cdot \dfrac{(x-1)(x+1)}{(x-4)(x+3)}$ Cancel the common factors to obtain: $\require{cancel} \\=\dfrac{\cancel{(x-5)}\cancel{(x+3)}}{\cancel{(x-5)}\cancel{(x-1)}} \cdot \dfrac{\cancel{(x-1)}(x+1)}{(x-4)\cancel{(x+3)}} \\=\dfrac{x+1}{x-4}$
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