Simplify x^4-3x^3/x^2-9

Question

Simplify  x^4-3x^3/x^2-9

austinl · Answer

Ok, I think I got this.
$$\frac{x^4-3x^2}{x^2-9}$$
For this particular problem, you would want to factor both the top and bottom. Do you think that you could do that for me?

If You need help, I can certainly give it.

anonymous · Answer

yea i got this x-3/x+3 i just wasnt sure if i was right

austinl · Answer

That is not the answer that I got.
For the top part of the function, we have 
$$x^4 -3x^3$$
We can then take out an x^3 to get
$$x^3(x-3)$$
On the bottom we get (x+3)(x-3)
so we now have
$$\frac{x^3(x-3)}{(x-3)(x+3)}$$
Then after we cancel out like terms, we have
$$\frac{x^3}{(x+3)}$$
Does that make sense?

anonymous · Answer

oooo ok yes i get it now :)
thnxs

austinl · Answer

no problem