Question

Simplify and find all numbers that must be excluded from the domain of the simplified rational expression.

(x^2-x)/(x+5) times (x^2 + 5x + 4)/(x^4 - x^2)

Answer 1

x^2-x/x+5 times x^2 + 5x = 4/x^4 - x^2 \(\leftarrow\) needs some ( ) to make the order clear. What is over what?

Answer 2

Edited, Thank you.

Answer 3

The = is inside the ( )???

Answer 4

It was meant to be an + ..

Answer 5

AH! OK. That makes sense since they are the same key.

\(\dfrac{x^2-x}{x+5} \times \dfrac{x^2 + 5x + 4}{x^4 - x^2}\)

Answer 6

Correct.

Answer 7

OK. Because this is multiplication of fractions, the easiest thing to do is factor it and cancel. But leave it in factored form for a bit to answer the excluded domain part.