Question

What is the product of the rational expressions shown below? Make sure your

answer is in reduced form. X+1/x-4 • 5x/x+1?

Answer 1

5x / (x - 4)

Explanation:

(x + 1)/(x - 4) • 5x/(x + 1)

Method 1:

Cancel out x + 1

Leaving 5x/(x - 4)

Method 2:

(x + 1)/(x - 4) • 5x/(x + 1)

Multiply numerator and denominator separately

= 5x(x + 1) / (x - 4)(x + 1)

Cancel out (x + 1) in the numerator and (x + 1) in the denominator

= 5x / (x - 4)

Therefore,

(x + 1)/(x - 4) • 5x/(x + 1) = 5x / (x - 4)