Need help fast!!!?

Question

Simplify the rational expression.... x^2 - 6x + 8 / x^2 - 4
Please show how to do this.

I just don't get this stuff.

Answer 1

I assume you mean the fraction
x^2 - 6x + 8
--------------
x^2 - 4

First, factor both top and bottom.
(x - 2)(x - 4)
---------------
(x - 2)(x + 2)

[Note: one trick is to do the easier one first, here it is the bottom.
Since one of those factors will usually be used on the top, so these will cancel out, you can guess that either x - 2 or x + 2 is a factor in the top part and use that clue to help you factor it out.]

Next, cancel out the common factor "x - 2" from top and bottom.

Final answer is
x - 4
------
x + 2

To check your work, plug in x = 1 or x = 3 for the original expression. Then plug x = 1 or 3 in your final reduced answer, and see if you get the same fraction or value both times. If not, that means the expressions are not equal and there is an error.
(Note: x cannot be 2 or you are dividing by 0.)

Answer 2

x^2 - 6x + 8 / x^2 - 4
first step;
(x-4)(x-2)
------------
(x-2)(x+2)

2nd step; cancel (x-2) together
the answer will be
(x-4)
------
(x+2)
hope that u got it!!!!