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Algebra 21 Online
OpenStudy (anonymous):

What is the simplified form of the quantity y−squared minus y minus 12 over the quantity y−squared plus 8y plus 15?

OpenStudy (welshfella):

y^2 - y - 12 ---------- y^2 + 8y + 15

OpenStudy (anonymous):

y minus 4 over y minus 5 y minus 4 over y plus 5 y plus 4 over y minus 5 y plus 4 over y plus 5 those are the answer choics

OpenStudy (welshfella):

factor top and bottom and see if there any common factors

OpenStudy (welshfella):

can you factor y^2 - y - 12?

OpenStudy (anonymous):

no

OpenStudy (anonymous):

i have another question after this

OpenStudy (welshfella):

they will look like (y + a)(y + b) where the product AB will = -12 and a + b will equal -1

OpenStudy (welshfella):

can you think of 2 numbers whose product is -12?

OpenStudy (anonymous):

3 and 4

OpenStudy (welshfella):

3nearl right 3 * 4 = 12 but we want -12

OpenStudy (anonymous):

-4 and 3

OpenStudy (welshfella):

* nearly

OpenStudy (welshfella):

ok that might be the ones we want do they add up to -1?

OpenStudy (anonymous):

yeah is it the second optiion

OpenStudy (welshfella):

we haven't got that far yet we need to factor the denominator next. yes a = 3 and b = -4 so the factors of the top of the fraction are (x + 3)(x - 4) now can you factor the denominator by the same method?

OpenStudy (anonymous):

3 and 5

OpenStudy (anonymous):

its the second option

OpenStudy (welshfella):

right so we have (y + 3)(y - 4) ---------- (y + 3)(y + 5) y + 3 is common

OpenStudy (welshfella):

yea second choice is correct

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