Question

Simplify rational ( trinomial only)

Simplify the following expression completely.

Answer 1

Answer:
`(x-4)/(x-7)`

Explanation:

`(x^(2)-5x+4 )/(x^(2) -8x+7)`

factor the top and bottom by finding numbers that multiply to the last term but add to middle

for top part:

-4 and -1 multiply to +4 and add to -5

for bottom part:

-7 and -1 multiply to to +7 and add to -8

Those are your factored numbers, put into factored form

`((x-4)(x-1))/((x-7)(x-1))` now cross off same factors from top and bottom only

`(x-4)/(x-7)`