Question

How do you simplify `[(x^2-x)/(x+5)]*[(x^2+5x+4)/(x^4-x^2)]`?

Answer 1

`(x+4)/(x(x+5))`

Explanation:

Factor the terms:

`[(x^2-x)/(x+5)].[(x^2+5x+4)/(x^2-x^2)]=[(x^2-x)/(x+5)].[((x+1)(x+4))/(x(x^2-x)(x+1))]`

Cancel terms in numerator and denominator that are the same:

`[(x^2-x)/(x+5)].[((x+1)(x+4))/(x(x^2-x)(x+1))]=(x+4)/(x(x+5))`