When a question asks 'write in its simplest form', do I factorise, or expand…? Eg…
$$
\frac{x+10}{(x-4)(x+3)}
$$
Or
$$
\frac{x+10}{x^2-x-12}
$$
Or does it even matter?
[Math] ‘Simplest form’ expand brackets
factoringfractions
factoringfractions
When a question asks 'write in its simplest form', do I factorise, or expand…? Eg…
$$
\frac{x+10}{(x-4)(x+3)}
$$
Or
$$
\frac{x+10}{x^2-x-12}
$$
Or does it even matter?
Best Answer
Simplify, in this context, and in your exam, means that the terms must be factorised wherever possible, (with any common factors cancelled), so the first form is correct.