Question

Please Help Will Medal!! I've gotten a few steps into this problem but need help finishing it. Find the area of a rectangle with a length of 2x+2/x-4 and a width of 3x-12/x^2+6x+5

Answer 1

PLease Help Will Medal!! I've gotten a few steps into this problem but need help finishing it. Find the area of a rectangle with a length of 2x+2/x-4 and a width of 3x-12/x^2+6x+5

Answer 2

@phi @Luigi0210 @douglaswinslowcooper @whpalmer4 Please help!

Answer 3

I suggest that you factor the numerator and denominator of both fractions. Then when you multiply them together, there will be some common factors in the numerator and denominator which you can cancel to simplify.

Answer 4

You can only factor the denominator in the second equation. You end up with the equations Length: 2x+2/x-4 and Width: 3x-12/(x+5)(x+1)

Answer 5

you can also factor the numerator in both of them, look more carefully.

Answer 6

None of the other x's are to a power. They only have a coefficient. To be able to factor they would have to be to a power.

Answer 7

that's not true.

you can 2x+2 as 2(x+1), for example

Answer 8

So you mean factor out the coefficient. Okay

Answer 9

yes, factor anything you can.

Answer 10

Okay. so you end up with Length: x/x-4 Width: 3(x-4)/(x+5)(x+1)

Answer 11

no...

the length is
(2x+2)/(x-4)

that factors as
2(x+1)/(x-4)

Answer 12

That's what I have written down. I must have messed it up typing it. okay. so whats' next?

Answer 13

I know you multiply the two equations

Answer 14

okay, write them out as a multiplication, then look for common factors to cancel

2(x+1) * 3(x-4)
--------------
(x-4) * (x+5)(x+1)

Answer 15

All of the symbols are the same so they wouldn't cancel out

Answer 16

huh? let me reorder it for you

2*3*(x+1)*(x-4)
--------------
(x+1)*(x-4)*(x+5)

Answer 17

see any common factors in both numerator and denominator now?

Answer 18

I see the (x+2) and (x-4) but the symbols aren't opposites so they don't cancel out

Answer 19

what (x+2)?

let me ask you another question. why is it that I keep asking you about factors canceling out if there really aren't any factors that cancel?

Answer 20

if you have a common factor in both numerator and denominator, they cancel out:

6
--
8

is the same as

2*3
----
2*4

the 2's cancel out, leaving you with

3
--
4

we're doing exactly the same thing here.

Answer 21

Pressed the wrong number. Sorry. I'm going back and forth between this and science. I meant (x+1)

Answer 22

You'd end up with (2)(3)/(2+5)

Answer 23

where are you getting (2+5)?!?

Answer 24

I mean (x+5) on the bottom.

Answer 25

you don't know the value of x

Answer 26

okay, accuracy is important in math!

2*3 6
--- = -----
(x+5) (x+5)

Answer 27

that's your final simplified answer

Answer 28

That's the answer. Thank You!