Question

Describe how to simplify a rational expression such as: (p^2-9)/(p^2-7p+12 ) by canceling like factors.

Answer 1

\[{ { p^2 - 9} \over { p^2 -7p + 12 } } = { { ( p + 3 ) } { ( p -3 ) } \over { { ( p - 3 ) } {(p - 4 ) } }} \]

Answer 2

then cancel out both (p-3) factors. Beware though, (p-3) still can't equal zero, you'll have to add that in your final answer