Question

What is the simplest form of

Answer 1

Factor the numerator and factor the denominator.


`(x^2 + 5x - 36)/(x^2 - 16) = ((x +9)(x - 4))/((x + 4)(x - 4)) = (x+9)/(x+4)`

Then you divide the numerator and the denominator by the common factor to reduce the fraction.