Question

can (x + 5) / x be simplified?

Answer 1

if you mean "can you reduce this fraction?" the answer is no you cannot

Answer 2

the instructions were just to simplify. I worked a problem and got down to that answer. Could you explain why I couldn't cancel out the x's.

Answer 3

you cannot cancel out the x's because all the terms do not have an x. There are three terms, but only two of them have an x. All three must have an x to cancel it.