Question

Help please! Would mean so much to me<3

Simplify the rational expression. State any restrictions on the variable.
x^2-2x-8 / x^2-16

Answer 1

`(x^2-2x-8)/(x^2-16) = ( (x + 2)(x - 4))/((x-4)(x+4)) = (x+2)/(x+4)`


`\boxed {\boxed{\text{Answer :} (x+2)/(x+4) , x \\eq -4 }}`

Answer 2

So:
(x-4)(x+2) / (x-4)(x+4)
We cancel out the x - 4:
(x+2)/(x+4)
Restrictions: x ≠ 4, x ≠ -4