Question

What mistake did he make in the process? (Answer using a complete sentence.)

Answer 1

the mistake was in the 3rd line: cancelng the like terms x^2.

you have to cancel factors

example:
`(x^2+7x+12)/(x^2+2x-8)=`
`((x+4)(x+3))/((x+4)(x-2))=((x+4)/(x+4))((x+3)/(x-2))=`
`(1)((x+3)/(x-2))=`
`(x+3)/(x-2)`

you cannot do
`(x^2+7x+12)/(x^2+2x-8)=(7x+12)/(2x-8)`

if you were to evaluate it, you would get different answers

The mistake was that Micah did not factor to make 'ones' and cancel terms.

Answer 2

Simplification of such an expression can be accomplished by canceling like factors. Canceling like terms is not an operation that makes any sense in this context. It is a mistake to subtract like terms from numerator and denominator.

_____

This expression cannot be simplified.