Fraction with Radical - need to simplify (easy)

[mathatesme]

This is probably easy for everyone on this forum but me. Can someone please explain this to me.

I need to simplify this:

(sqrt(x) - 4) / (x - 16))

am I on the right track by doing it this way...

(sqrt(x) - 4) / (sqrt(x) - 4) (sqrt(x) + 4) ...then cancel the (sqrt(x) - 4) in the Numerator and Denominator. To have my final answer be...

sqrt(x) + 4

Please help.

 

[dextercioby]

You mean

\frac{1}{\sqrt{x}+4}

Daniel.

 

[mathatesme]

Okay...yeah...1/(sqrt(x)+4)

Is that correct?

And thank you for the fast reply!

 

[HallsofIvy]

Yes, that's correct.

x-16= (\sqrt{x}-4)(\sqrt{x}+4)

 

[mathatesme]

Thanks.

Thank you, I really appreciate your help! :)