MHB Can You Simplify the Fraction 2h/h2 + 2h + 2 by Cancelling Out 2h?

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The fraction 2h/h² + 2h + 2 cannot be simplified by canceling out 2h. The expression simplifies to 2(1/h + h + 1), but 2h does not cancel out in this form. If the expression were 2h/(h² + 2h + 2), it still would not simplify further. Therefore, the initial assumption about canceling 2h is incorrect. The discussion clarifies the importance of correctly interpreting the fraction for simplification.
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2h/h2 + 2h + 2

does the 2h cancel out?
 
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coolbeans33 said:
2h/h2 + 2h + 2

does the 2h cancel out?

It's hard to see what you mean but I'm inclined to say the answer is no.

As you've written it we have:
$$\frac{2h}{h^2} + 2h + 2 = 2\left(\dfrac{1}{h} + h + 1\right)$$

but you can't cancel $$2h$$

If you meant $$\frac{2h}{h^2+2h+2}$$ then it won't cancel any further
 
Here is a little puzzle from the book 100 Geometric Games by Pierre Berloquin. The side of a small square is one meter long and the side of a larger square one and a half meters long. One vertex of the large square is at the center of the small square. The side of the large square cuts two sides of the small square into one- third parts and two-thirds parts. What is the area where the squares overlap?

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