Question

What is the simplified form of the quantity y−squared minus y minus 12 over the quantity y−squared minus 2y minus 15?

Answer 1

(y^2-y-12)/(y^2-2y-15)  factor both the numerator and denominator...

(y^2-4y+3y-12)/(y^2-5y+3y-15)

(y(y-4)+3(y-4))/(y(y-5)+3(y-5))

((y-4)(y+3))/((y-5)(y+3))  so the (y+3) terms cancel leaving

(y-4)/(y-5)