Algebra 1

Published by Prentice Hall
ISBN 10: 0133500403
ISBN 13: 978-0-13350-040-0

Chapter 11 - Rational Expressions and Functions - 11-1 Simplifying Rational Expressions - Practice and Problem-Solving Exercises - Page 655: 15

Answer

2/(b+4) ; b cannot equal 4 or -4

Work Step by Step

In order to simplify, we want something to be both in the numerator and the denominator of the fraction so it can be canceled out. Thus, we factor and obtain: $(2b-8)/b^{2}-16 \\\\ 2(b-4) / (b-4)(b+4) \\\\ 2/(b+4)$ b cannot equal 4 or -4, for if b equaled 4 or -4, the denominator of the fraction would cancel out to 0, which is not allowed.
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