Question

How do you simplify `(x^2+8x+12)/(x^2+3x-18)`?

Answer 1

`(x+2)/(x-3)`

Explanation:

Although the whole fraction is one term, we may not cancel any values because we do not have factors, we have terms in the numerator and denominator.

Factorise first.

`(x^2+8x+12)/(x^2+3x-18) = ((x+6)(x+2))/((x+6)(x-3)`

Now that we have factors we may cancel

`(cancel(x+6)(x+2))/(cancel(x+6)(x-3)`

`(x+2)/(x-3)`