Simplifying Rational Expressions
This article will guide you through simplifying the expression:
((v^2-2v-3)/(v^2-7v+10))((2v-10)/(5v+5))
Step 1: Factor the Expressions
Begin by factoring each of the quadratic expressions and binomials:
- v^2-2v-3: This factors to (v-3)(v+1)
- v^2-7v+10: This factors to (v-5)(v-2)
- 2v-10: This factors to 2(v-5)
- 5v+5: This factors to 5(v+1)
Now, our expression looks like this:
((v-3)(v+1)/((v-5)(v-2)))((2(v-5))/(5(v+1)))
Step 2: Simplify by Cancelling Common Factors
We can now cancel out common factors present in both the numerator and denominator:
- (v+1) appears in both the numerator and denominator
- (v-5) appears in both the numerator and denominator
This leaves us with:
(v-3)/(v-2) * 2/5
Step 3: Final Result
Finally, we multiply the remaining factors:
(2(v-3))/(5(v-2))
Therefore, the simplified form of the expression ((v^2-2v-3)/(v^2-7v+10))((2v-10)/(5v+5)) is (2(v-3))/(5(v-2)).
Important Note: Remember that this simplified expression is only valid when v ≠ 2 and v ≠ -1, as these values would make the original expression undefined.