Question

Simplify and state the restriction
12x^4-25x+12/3x^2+2x-8

Answer 1

Is this your question?
\(\Large{\frac{12x^4-25x+12}{3x^2+2x-8}}\)

Answer 2

If so, both the numerator and denominator need to be factored first.

Answer 3

How do you do that?

Answer 4

I use \(\LaTeX\) because I'm already familiar with the language, but you can use the Equation editor button under the reply box.
\(\Large{\frac{12x^4-25x+12}{3x^2+2x-8}}\)
`\(\Large{\frac{12x^4-25x+12}{3x^2+2x-8}}\)`
The \Large{ } just makes all the characters bigger and more readable

Answer 5

So what do you do next then?

Answer 6

You need to factor the numerator, then factor the denominator.

Answer 7

\(12x^4-25x+12\)
First you need two numbers that will multiply to be \(12x^4\)

Answer 8

Sol like 4x^2 and 3x^2?

Answer 9

That could be. Remember that 12 has factors 1,12 and 2,6 and 3,4 - It could be any one of those. Have you learned the quadratic formula?

Answer 10

Not yet :/

Answer 11

recheck the problem and make sure i have it written exactly correct. Check the coefficients, exponents, numbers and signs.

Answer 12

I'm hoping the \(12x^4\) should be \(12x^2\).

Answer 13

Ohh you are right it is 12x^2 im so sorry about that

Answer 14

Great. Factor the denominator and we will come back to the numerator.

Answer 15

So is it 3x-16 times 4x-9?

Answer 16

FOIL your factors to check.

Answer 17

\(3x^2+2x-8\)
\((3x\pm?)(x\pm?)\)
Remember that to get your middle term, you will combine the products of the inside and outside terms.

Answer 18

Your last terms have to multiply to be -8 so your choices there are 1,8 and 2,4 and 4,2 and 8,1