# Homework Help: Simplify this algebraic expression

1. May 26, 2010

### Gringo123

How can I simplify this expression? As it is already factorised (factored) I do not see what else I can do to simplify it.

x(9x+2) / x3(x-2)

The only thing that I can think of is if I unfactorise everything to give the following:(although it doesn't seem to be very simplified from the original expression)

x2 + 2x / x4 - 2x3

which gives.... 2x / x2 - 2x3

2. May 26, 2010

### HallsofIvy

General rule- never "unfactorize" unless you see very good reason to!

Here, you should be able to see the "x" factor in the numerator and "$x^3$" in the denominator and immediately cancel. What's left, 9x+2 and x- 2, have no common factor so the simplest form is $(9x+2)^2/(x-2)$

In what you wrote, you seem to have forgotten the "9" in the numerator.

Also, you cannot cancel, in numerator and denominator, things that are added. $(x^2+ 2x)/(x^4- 2x^3)$ is NOT $2x/(x^2- 2x^3)$.

Last edited by a moderator: May 27, 2010
3. May 26, 2010

### Gringo123

Thanks a lot Hall of Ivy!!

4. May 26, 2010

### Staff: Mentor

Whenever there are two or more terms in the numerator or denominator, parentheses are needed around the numerator or denominator, or both.

More seriously, you are cancelling terms in the numerator or denominator that are not factors. By this same logic we would say that (1 + 2)/(2 + 7) = 1/7, which is clearly incorrect.