Algebra Question!?

Question

p^2 + p - 20 over 4-p
so it looks like this

p^2 + p - 20
----------------
4 - p

Answer 1

factor numerator: (p+5)(p-4)

multiply numerator and denominator by -1, only distributing in denominator so that 4-p becomes p-4.

= - (p+5)(p-4) / (p-4)

= - (p+5)

that's it! :)

Answer 2

first factor the top
p^2 + p - 20 = (p - 4) (p + 5)
you need to see if you can cancel one bracket from the top with exactly the same one from the bottom, so
(p - 4) (p + 5) = - ( 4-p ) (p+5)
now you can cancel (4-p) and the answer will be = - (p+5) or
= -p -5

Answer 3

Factor your numerator so you have this following:

(p + 5)(p - 4)
------------------
(4 - p)


Switch the constant and the variable in your denominator, being careful that you keep the correct sign with the correct term!

(p + 5)(p - 4)
------------------
(-p + 4)

Notice that one factor in your numerator and the factor in your denominator are identical except for signs. If you could switch the signs, you could cancel those two factors. OH, BUT YOU CAN!!! If you factor out a -1 from your denominator, you can change the signs!!!!

(p + 5)(p - 4)
------------------
(-1)(p - 4)

Now your factors cancel.

(p + 5)
---------
(-1)

If you divide your numerator by negative one, you will switch those signs, now.

-(p + 5)

Math people like their lead term (which is "p") to be positive so we leave the negative sign outside the parentheses.

WOOHOO!

Answer 4

What may I ask, is the ?. This is not an equation but an "expression". There is no "equals sign!

Do you wish to simplify this expression?

Answer 5

2p - 5

Answer 6

p^2+p-20
--------------
4-p

(p-4)(p+5)
-------------
4-p

p+5 answer