Question

What is the simplified form of x^2 - 16 / x + 4

Answer 1

Hint:

x^2 - 16

x^2 - 4^2

(x-4)(x+4)

Answer 2

x - 4, with the restriction x ≠ 4

x + 4, with the restriction x ≠ - 4

x - 4, with the restriction x ≠ - 4

x + 4, with the restriction x ≠ 4

Answer 3

I'm using the difference of squares rule

Answer 4

@jim_thompson5910 is it A?

Answer 5

it is x-4, but the restriction is not x ≠ 4 since 4 is a perfectly valid input in the original expression

Answer 6

x+4 = 0

x = -4 is the value that makes the denominator zero, so this is the restricted value

Answer 7

So it would be C

Answer 8

yes, it's C

Answer 9

@jim_thompson5910 can u plz explain me more i'm confused

Answer 10

which part are you confused about?

Answer 11

if you want, you can ask the question in a separate post

Answer 12

all

Answer 13

\[\Large \frac{x^2 - 16}{x+4}\]


\[\Large \frac{x^2 - 4^2}{x+4}\]


\[\Large \frac{(x-4)(x+4)}{x+4}\]


\[\Large \frac{(x-4)\cancel{(x+4)}}{\cancel{x+4}}\]


\[\Large x-4\]


So \[\Large \frac{x^2 - 16}{x+4}\] simplifies to \[\Large x-4\]


Keep in mind that x cannot equal -4 in the original expression.

So for the two expressions to be completely equivalent, x cannot equal -4 in the final expression.