Algebra Examples

$\frac{c^{2} - 4}{c + 3} \div \frac{3 (c^{2} - 9)}{c + 2}$

Step 1

To divide by a fraction, multiply by its reciprocal.

$\frac{c^{2} - 4}{c + 3} \cdot \frac{c + 2}{3 (c^{2} - 9)}$

Step 2

Simplify the numerator.

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Step 2.1

Rewrite $4$ as $2^{2}$ .

$\frac{c^{2} - 2^{2}}{c + 3} \cdot \frac{c + 2}{3 (c^{2} - 9)}$

Step 2.2

Since both terms are perfect squares, factor using the difference of squares formula, $a^{2} - b^{2} = (a + b) (a - b)$ where $a = c$ and $b = 2$ .

$\frac{(c + 2) (c - 2)}{c + 3} \cdot \frac{c + 2}{3 (c^{2} - 9)}$

Step 3

Simplify the denominator.

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Step 3.1

Rewrite $9$ as $3^{2}$ .

$\frac{(c + 2) (c - 2)}{c + 3} \cdot \frac{c + 2}{3 (c^{2} - 3^{2})}$

Step 3.2

Since both terms are perfect squares, factor using the difference of squares formula, $a^{2} - b^{2} = (a + b) (a - b)$ where $a = c$ and $b = 3$ .

$\frac{(c + 2) (c - 2)}{c + 3} \cdot \frac{c + 2}{3 (c + 3) (c - 3)}$

Step 4

Multiply $\frac{(c + 2) (c - 2)}{c + 3} \cdot \frac{c + 2}{3 (c + 3) (c - 3)}$ .

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Step 4.1

Multiply $\frac{(c + 2) (c - 2)}{c + 3}$ by $\frac{c + 2}{3 (c + 3) (c - 3)}$ .

$\frac{(c + 2) (c - 2) (c + 2)}{(c + 3) (3 (c + 3) (c - 3))}$

Step 4.2

Raise $c + 2$ to the power of $1$ .

$\frac{{(c + 2)}^{1} (c + 2) (c - 2)}{(c + 3) (3 (c + 3) (c - 3))}$

Step 4.3

Raise $c + 2$ to the power of $1$ .

$\frac{{(c + 2)}^{1} {(c + 2)}^{1} (c - 2)}{(c + 3) (3 (c + 3) (c - 3))}$

Step 4.4

Use the power rule $a^{m} a^{n} = a^{m + n}$ to combine exponents.

$\frac{{(c + 2)}^{1 + 1} (c - 2)}{(c + 3) (3 (c + 3) (c - 3))}$

Step 4.5

Add $1$ and $1$ .

$\frac{{(c + 2)}^{2} (c - 2)}{(c + 3) (3 (c + 3) (c - 3))}$

Step 4.6

Raise $c + 3$ to the power of $1$ .

$\frac{{(c + 2)}^{2} (c - 2)}{3 ({(c + 3)}^{1} (c + 3)) (c - 3)}$

Step 4.7

Raise $c + 3$ to the power of $1$ .

$\frac{{(c + 2)}^{2} (c - 2)}{3 ({(c + 3)}^{1} {(c + 3)}^{1}) (c - 3)}$

Step 4.8

Use the power rule $a^{m} a^{n} = a^{m + n}$ to combine exponents.

$\frac{{(c + 2)}^{2} (c - 2)}{3 {(c + 3)}^{1 + 1} (c - 3)}$

Step 4.9

Add $1$ and $1$ .

$\frac{{(c + 2)}^{2} (c - 2)}{3 {(c + 3)}^{2} (c - 3)}$