Quandaries
and Queries
Can you please explain to me how to factor completely the following problem:
(sqrt(x+1))-((x2+2x+1)( -7/4)).
Thank you so much.
Hi Abraham,
Since x2 +2x+1 = (x+1)2,
(x2+2x+1)( -7/4) = (x+1)( -7/2) = 1/ (x+1)( 7/2)
Now express the two terms you have with the common denominator of
(x+1)( 7/2)
I got the numerator to be
(x+1)( 1/2) (x+1)( 7/2) -1 = (x+1)4 -1
Finally factor the numerator as a difference of squares, and then one of the factors can be factored again as a difference of squares to give a numerator of
x (x+2)[(x+1)2 +1]
Penny