How would I simplify something like this:
(12a^3-20a^2)/(16a^2+8a)

Please include steps :)

Question

How would I simplify something like this:
(12a^3-20a^2)/(16a^2+8a)

Please include steps :)

anonymous · Answer

$$12a^3-20a^2/16a^2+8a$$

anonymous · Answer

If this is a limit calculation, I would divide everything by a^3. Else, I would first divide everything by 4 to obtain:$$\frac{3a^3 - 5a^2}{4a^2 + 2a}$$Then I would divide by a to get:$$\frac{3a^2 - 5a}{4a + 2}$$Now you can do polynomial division if you wish, personally I am not a really fan of it.

anonymous · Answer

4(3a^3-5a^2) / 4(3a^2+2a)
3a^3-5a^2 / 3a^2+2

anonymous · Answer

correct is:
4(3a^3-5a^2) / 4(4a^2+2a)
3a^3-5a^2 / 4a^2+2a

anonymous · Answer

Ah right, you can factor out stuff:$$\frac{a(3a - 5)}{2(2a + 1)}$$

anonymous · Answer

Thank you all :)

anonymous · Answer

No problem :-)