## Mikeyy64 one year ago Simplify:

1. Mikeyy64

$\frac{ 15x + 15 }{ x^2 - 1 }$

2. Compassionate

Hello, my name is Stephen and I will be your tutor. The first step is to factor the bottom terms and top terms, do you see any possible factors, Mikeyy?

3. Mikeyy64

15(x + 1) -------- (x - 1)(x + 1)

4. Mikeyy64

Is that correct?

5. Compassionate

Correct! Now, you see the x + 1's will cancel, leaving you with $\frac{ 15 }{ x - 1 }$

6. Mikeyy64

So: (x + 1) would cancel out (x + 1) and not (x - 1) I thought negative would cancel out a positive and other way around. That's where I got confused.

7. Compassionate

No, that's not the case. Only like terms can cancel each other, for example, if I had $\frac{ x - y }{ x - a }$ The terms cannot cancel, nor can the x's, because x - y and x - a, are terms themselves. You need to understand that. Now, if I had: x - y over x - y, then I could cancel. Only terms that are exactly the same can be canceled.

8. Mikeyy64

Oh okay, thank you for that information ^.^

9. Compassionate

You're welcome! OpenStudy On ~~

10. Mikeyy64

You too (: