# Super Simple Algebra...

• March 5th 2009, 01:57 PM
jon7754
Super Simple Algebra...
...yet I'm unable to figure it out. (Angry)

Simplify:
(15x^2-8x-8)/(3x+2)

(Edit)
Seem to have broken forum rules! I've tried to divide it out as so:
15x^2/3-8x/x-8/2
which gets me
5x^2-8-4
5x^2-12
However when I multiply that by (3x+2) 15x^2-8x-8 is not my answer!
• March 5th 2009, 02:13 PM
masters
Quote:

Originally Posted by jon7754
...yet I'm unable to figure it out. (Angry)

Simplify:
(15x^2-8x-8)/(3x+2)

Hi jon7754,

$\frac{15x^2-8x-8}{3x+2}$

As written, the numerator of your fraction cannot be factored. Therefore there are no common factors between the numerator and denominator. Looks to me like this is as good as it gets.

It would have been really nice if your numerator had been $15x^2-8x-12$
• March 5th 2009, 02:22 PM
Reckoner
Quote:

Originally Posted by jon7754
Seem to have broken forum rules! I've tried to divide it out as so:
15x^2/3-8x/x-8/2
which gets me
5x^2-8-4
5x^2-12

Huh? What ever made you think you could divide like that? Do you know how to do polynomial long division? Look here.

If you do it correctly, you should get

$\frac{15x^2-8x-8}{3x+2}=5x-6+\frac4{3x+2}.$