Question

No one has been able to help! Please help I'll give a medal! Simplify the rational expression
x^2+2x-35/x^2+4x-21

Answer 1

@jim_thompson5910 do you mind helping me please?!

Answer 2

Are you able to factor any of the expressions?

Answer 3

The answer I got was x+5/x+3 but idk if that is right

Answer 4

what do you get when you factor the numerator?

Answer 5

I got x^2+2x-35=(x+7)(x-5)

Answer 6

how about the denominator

Answer 7

(x-7)(x+3)

Answer 8

that's incorrect

Answer 9

notice how -7+3 = -4 but we want +4 instead

Answer 10

Oh ok! so what do I do next

Answer 11

what's the correct factorization of the denominator?

Answer 12

7-3=4 so (x+7)(x-3)?

Answer 13

So we will get this:
\[\Large \frac{x^2+2x-35}{x^2+4x-21}\]
\[\Large \frac{(x+7)(x-5)}{x^2+4x-21}\]
\[\Large \frac{(x+7)(x-5)}{(x+7)(x-3)}\]
\[\Large \frac{\cancel{(x+7)}(x-5)}{\cancel{(x+7)}(x-3)}\]
\[\Large \frac{x-5}{x-3}\]

Answer 14

Oh ok! Thank you for explaining it!

Answer 15

you're welcome