How do you simplify #(x^2)/(x+3) - (9)/(x+3)#?

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Answer 1 · 2015-10-07T12:31:46

#=color(blue)(x-3#

#x^2/(x+3) - 9/(x+3)#

Since the denominator is the same we simply combine the numerators.

#x^2/(x+3) - 9/(x+3) = (x^2-9)/(x+3)#

As per identity
#color(blue)(a^2-b^2=(a+b)(a-b)#

We apply the same to the numerator.

# (x^2-9)/(x+3)= color(blue)((x-3)cancel(x+3))/cancel(x+3)#

#=color(blue)(x-3#