Answer
$${\text{The first step is perform the long division}}{\text{.}}$$
Work Step by Step
$$\eqalign{
& \frac{{{x^2} + 2x - 3}}{{x + 1}} \cr
& {\text{The degree of the polynomial in the numerator is }}2 \cr
& {\text{The degree of the polynomial in the denominator is 1}} \cr
& {\text{Therefore the expression }}\frac{{{x^2} + 2x - 3}}{{x + 1}}{\text{ is an improper}} \cr
& {\text{rational function, the first step is divide the numerator}} \cr
& {\text{into the denominator performing the long division}}{\text{.}} \cr} $$
