Question

HELP! is it 5? or x - 3? check out the attachment in the comment box for the question

Answer 1

can you factor the bottom?

Answer 2

i solved the whole problem and my answer was 5x - 3

Answer 3

5 over x-3 i meant

Answer 4

to answer the question you should factor the bottom

the top also factors (5x+10) = 5(x+2)

if you factor the bottom you get (x+2)(x-3)
what factor is common to both the top and bottom ?

Answer 5

x + 2?

Answer 6

yes. they are asking for the "greatest common factor" which is the (x+2)

the reason we would want to find it, is so we can simplify the expression... but in this case they do not want the simplified expression, just the common factor

Answer 7

thanks phi! :)

Answer 8

@phi sorry to bother you again! I need help with this problem also. I'm thinking B. as the answer

Answer 9

for B to be correct , you need the top (x^2 -16) to "cancel" the bottom's (x-16)

if you divide something by itself it will "cancel". BUT (x^2 -16) is different from (x-16)

however, you can factor (x^2 - 16)
it is a difference of squares. use the rule (a^2 - b^2) =(a+b)(a-b)

Answer 10

@phi so its x over x + 4?