How do you evaluate #\frac { 5x + 15} { x ^ { 2} + 2x - 3} \cdot \frac { 7x - 7} { 10x + 20}#?

1 Answer
Oct 20, 2017

#3.5/(x+2)#

Explanation:

You can't evaluate for #x#, but you can simplify this expression using factoring and dividing away numbers:

First factor:

#(5(x+3))/((x+3)(x-1))*(7(x-1))/(10(x+2))#

Multiply across:

#(5(x+3)7(x-1))/((x+3)(x-1)10(x+2))#

Divide away equivalent factors:

#(5cancel((x+3))7cancel((x-1)))/(cancel((x+3))cancel((x-1))10(x+2))#

Thus we are left with:

#35/(10(x+2))=3.5/(x+2)#