Question

how do i write the rational expression in lowest terms: (R^2-S^2)/(R+S)

Answer 1

Hint: use the difference of squares factoring rule

Answer 2

to factor the numerator

tell me what you get when you do that

Answer 3

i started eliminating one of the R's and one of the S's

Answer 4

the difference of squares factoring rule is

x^2 - y^2 = (x-y)(x+y)

Answer 5

this is what i am doing
R^2-S^2/R+S
R^2 / R+S S^2 / R+S

Answer 6

that's not a legal algebraic move

Answer 7

however, you can factor R^2-S^2 to get (R-S)(R+S)

Answer 8

what do you notice cancelling out?

Answer 9

actually sorry, it is legal (thinking of something else)

but it's not a helpful move

Answer 10

yeah that's what i notice because i was just cancelling out 1 and the results then went back to the main fraction again

Answer 11

the (R+S) terms cancel

Answer 12

leaving you with (R-S) or just R-S