Question

HELP!

Answer 1

Factor the numerator. Factor the denominator. Cancel the common factors.

Answer 2

\[\frac{ 2x ^{3} - 2x ^{2} -12x }{ x ^{4} - 2x ^{3} -8x ^{2} }\]

Answer 3

I think it's easier if you write it in this format. Then do what Mertsj suggests.

Answer 4

@just.chris Is B correct?

Answer 5

are you able to factor the top and bottom ?

Answer 6

@phi I am kind of struggling :(

Answer 7

let's factor the bottom expression
\[ x ^{4} - 2x ^{3} -8x ^{2} \]

the first thing to do is look for letters or numbers that are the same in each term
remember x^4 means x*x*x*x and x^3 means x*x*x
so this is the same as
x*x*x*x - 2*x*x*x -8*x*x

do you see you can "factor out" a x*x from each term?

Answer 8

yes

Answer 9

what do you get ?

Answer 10

x^2( x^2 - 2x - 8)

Answer 11

Is it correct?

Answer 12

u can use freemathhelp.com that will help you and sometimes that will explain

Answer 13

yes, now we factor the quadratic
x^2 -2x-8

to do this, list all the pairs of factors of 8:
1,8
2,4

next, the minus sign on the 8 means the factors will have opposite signs
the -2 (in front of the x) means the bigger factor is negative.

so our choices are 1 and -8
and 2 and -4
when we add them, one of these pairs has to give us -2

which pair do we choose ?

Answer 14

2 and -4

Answer 15

so the naswer is

Answer 16

so 2 and -4 are the pair that means the factors of this quadratic is (x+2)(x-4)

all together we have
x^2( x^2 - 2x - 8) = x^2 (x+2) (x-4)

Answer 17

now we can tackle the top
\[2x ^{3} - 2x ^{2} -12x\]

notice you can factor out a 2 and an x

Answer 18

Yes so it is 2(x-3)/ x(x-4)

Answer 19

if you just want the answer, just use wolfram. If you want to learn how to do it, then you have to practice.

Answer 20

Yes yes I want to learn how to do it! Now I understand it! THANK YOU!!!