Question

How would I simplify this rational expression?

Answer 1

\[\frac{2a^2 - 4a + 2 }{3a^2-3 }\]

Answer 2

First, factor the numerator and denominator.

Answer 3

Add like terms

Answer 4

\[2a^{2}-4a+2=2(a^{2}-2a+1)=2(a-1)^{2}\]\[3a^{2}-3=3(a+1)(a-1)\]Factor out what you can.

Answer 5

There are no like terms to be added.

Answer 6

Then do I cancel out the like expressions? {(a-1)}?

Answer 7

2/3?

Answer 8

\[\frac{2(a-1)(a-1) }{3(a-1)(a+1) }=\frac{ 2(a-1) }{ 3(a+1) }\]

Answer 9

Ohhh. Thank you. So, what would the excluded value be for this expression?

Answer 10

I can't think of any value that would make the expression undefined.

Answer 11

Nevermind, \[a \neq1, a \neq-1\]