Answer
$\frac{x + 3}{x - 4}$
Restriction: $x \ne 4, -1$
Work Step by Step
Factor all expressions in the original exercise:
$\frac{(x + 3)(x + 1)}{(x - 4)(x + 1)}$
Cancel common factors in the numerator and denominator:
$\frac{x + 3}{x - 4}$
Restrictions on $x$ occur when the value of $x$ makes the denominator equal $0$, which means that the denominator becomes undefined.
Set the factors in the denominators equal to $0$ to find restrictions:
First factor:
$x - 4 = 0$
Add $4$ to each side of the equation:
$x = 4$
Second factor:
$x + 1 = 0$
Subtract $1$ from each side of the equation:
$x = -1$
Restriction: $x \ne 4, -1$
