Question

Simplify x^2+3x-4/x+4 Show work and explain why x doesn’t equal -4

Answer 1

Take the numerator of the fraction and factor it out.

$x^{2} + 3x - 4 = (x+4)(x-1)$

Your fraction should now look like this:

$\frac{(x+4)(x-1)}{(x+4)}$

Because (x+4) is present in both the numerator and denominator, you can cross it out. You should be left with only (x-1) in the numerator.

x cannot equal -4, as if it is inputted in the denominator, -4 + 4 would equal 0. Dividing by 0 is impossible.