How do you simplify (r+6)/(4^2-r-6)r+642r6 and state the restrictions?

1 Answer
Apr 7, 2015

I assume your question is (r + 6)/(r^2 - r - 6)r+6r2r6

Let's Factorise the color(red)(DENOMINATOR)DENOMINATOR first.

The Denominator is color(red)(r^2 - r - 6)r2r6

We can use Splitting the Middle Term technique to factorise this.

It is in the form ax^2 + bx + cax2+bx+c where a=1, b=-1, c= -6a=1,b=1,c=6

To split the middle term, we need to think of two numbers N_1 and N_2N1andN2 such that:
N_1*N_2 = a*c and N_1+N_2 = bN1N2=acandN1+N2=b
N_1*N_2 = (1)*(-6) and N_1+N_2 = -1N1N2=(1)(6)andN1+N2=1
N_1*N_2 = -6 and N_1+N_2 = -1N1N2=6andN1+N2=1

After Trial and Error, we get N_1 = 2 and N_2 = -3N1=2andN2=3
(2)*(-3) = -6(2)(3)=6 and (2) + (-3) = -1(2)+(3)=1

So we can write the denominator as
color(red)(r^2 +2r -3r - 6)r2+2r3r6
= r*(r+2) - 3*(r+2)=r(r+2)3(r+2)
= (r+2)*(r-3)=(r+2)(r3)

The Denominator can be written as color(red)((r-2)*(r+3))(r2)(r+3)

The expression we have been given is
(r + 6)/(r^2 - r - 6)r+6r2r6

After the denominator was factorised, the Expression can now be written as :

((r+6))/((r+2)*(r-3))(r+6)(r+2)(r3)

(r + 6)/(r^2 - r - 6)r+6r2r6 = ((r+6))/((r+2)*(r-3))(r+6)(r+2)(r3)