Question

Help with multiplying rational expressions anyone?

Answer 1

sure

Answer 2

\[\frac{ x-5 }{ 2x } \times \frac{ x-4 }{ x+1 }\]

Answer 3

Sorry it took so long to write out

Answer 4

foil the numerator
and distribute the denominator

Answer 5

I have the numerator foiled: x2 – 9x + 20

Answer 6

x2 = x^2

Answer 7

Not sure what to do with the denominator though

Answer 8

denominator would look like 2x^2+2x

Answer 9

I thought that but I entered the problem into Wolfram alpha and it had a really long answer

Answer 10

what did it look like?

Answer 11

what math r u in

Answer 12

Here is a link: http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=+%28x-5%29%2F%282x%29+*+%28x-4%29%2F%28x%2B1%29

If you scroll down to where it says alternate forms the answer is weird...under results it has the same answer you gave me though

Answer 13

I clicked on show step by step solution and it got really confusing

Answer 14

I'm trying to get a screenshot

Answer 15

okay well do x-5 times x-4 both would be in parantheses so it would look like (x-5)(x-4) for the numerator...

Answer 16

the alternative form is the same as the expanded form, it just looks different and they factored it in a different way

Answer 17

then do 2x times x+1 and it would be 2x(x+1) and that is the denominator and ur done. it is the same as before they just wanted u to simplify it

Answer 18

did that help u

Answer 19

Yes but the other person already answered. Thanks anyways. That thing from wolfram alpha confused me though...

Answer 20

okay

Answer 21

the walfram shows u in a verity of ways to do it, but their outcome is the same

Answer 22

The outcome has 3 weird fractions as an outcome, not x^2 – 9x + 20/2x^2+2x as an outcome