Home > Algebra > Excluded Values for Rational Expressions

How do you simplify #(x^2 - 9)/(x^2 - 6x + 9)#?

Answer 1

Eva Abramson

By employing special products to factorize both parts of the fraction, you can then eliminate like terms:

#=((x-3)(x+3))/((x-3)(x-3))=(x+3)/(x-3)#

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Answer 2

Hazel Anglin

To simplify the expression (x^2 - 9)/(x^2 - 6x + 9), we can factor the numerator and denominator. The numerator is a difference of squares, so it can be factored as (x - 3)(x + 3). The denominator is a perfect square trinomial, which can be factored as (x - 3)(x - 3) or (x - 3)^2. Therefore, the expression simplifies to (x - 3)(x + 3)/(x - 3)^2.

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.