Question

Simplify the rational expression (X^2-x-72)/(x^2-64)

Answer 1

`\cfrac{x^2-x-72}{x^2-64}\implies \cfrac{(x+8)(x-9)}{x^2-8^2}\implies \cfrac{(x-9)~~\begin{matrix} (x+8) \\[-0.7em]\cline{1-1}\\[-5pt]\end{matrix}~~}{~~\begin{matrix} (x+8) \\[-0.7em]\cline{1-1}\\[-5pt]\end{matrix}~~(x-8)}\implies \cfrac{x-9}{x-8}`

Answer 2

`(x - 9)/(x - 8)`

Explanation:

`((x - 9)(x + 8))/((x + 8)(x - 8))`

`(x - 9)/(x - 8)`