Question

How do you simplify `(x^2 +5x -6)/(x+6)`?

Answer 1

`x-1`

Explanation:

Let's try to factor the numerator, `x^2+5x-6` first. What two numbers sum up to `5` and those same two multiply to get `-6`?

Their product is negative, so the signs must be different. After some thought, we arrive at `-1` and `6`. Thus, we have:

`((x-1)(x+6))/(x+6)`

`=>((x-1)cancel(x+6))/cancel(x+6)`

`=>x-1`

Hope this helps!