Question

How to simplify?

x+2
----
x-2

Answer 1

Do you mean \[\frac{ x+2 }{ x-2 }\] ?

Answer 2

Yes, that's correct

Answer 3

There is nothing to simplify.

Answer 4

Hmm, it says evaluate as well. Does that change anything?

Answer 5

No it isn't -1.

Answer 6

2 doesn't work either.

Answer 7

If you were asked to evaluate it, were you given an x value to evaluate it at?

Answer 8

No, it just says: Evaluate and simplify. Assume that no denominator is zero.

Answer 9

\(\dfrac{ x+2 }{ x-2 }\)

Let x = 5: \(\dfrac{ 5+2 }{ 5-2 } = \dfrac{7}{3} \)

Here's a single counterexample that shows this is not -1.

This expression will have a different value for each value of x, and it is not defined for x = 2 since x = 2 will cause the denominator to be zero.

Answer 10

Right yes, I was thinking of multiplying it by the converse for some reason ><

Answer 11

@nincompoop I'm sure you meant \(x \ne 2\), not \(n \ne 0\).

Answer 12

you could evaluate the graph of the function i guess.

vertical asymptote at x=2
horizontal asymptote at y=1

http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=plot+%28x%2B2%29%2F%28x-2%29

Answer 13

yes x not equal to 2

Answer 14

I shouldn't even try to help right now ... laughing out loud my brain is fried

Answer 15

When you set x - 2 =0
We get x = 2

Therefore, since we cannot divide by 0, x cannot equal 2

It is all real numbers where \[x \neq 2\]

But this equation cannot be simplified further. Which is what it is asking.

Right?

Answer 16

Correct.
As I stated in my first response, there is nothing you can do to simplify this.

Answer 17

Okay, I looked at this question and had no idea what to do. I guess there isn't anything haha. Thanks you guys.

Answer 18

Rewrite the problem as the answer. There is no simplification to be made, so just write it again as the solution.