Expert: Richard J. Raridon - 2/11/2008

Question
Hi Richard,
Thanks so much for your help, I am working on Rational Expressions and I just don't get it.  The factoring thing has me totaly confused.  I have this problem and I don't even know where to start:
X^2-4 over x^2-x-6 / (x^2x-2 over x^2-8x+15 * x^2-3x-10 over x^2+3x+2)

I know it is a long one, I know wer flip the second part because of the division, but from there I am all lost!

Answer
Factor each part
x^2-4 = (x+2)(x-2)
x^2-x-6 = (x-3)(x+2)
x^2x-2 do you mean x^2-2x which would factor to x(x-2)
x^2-8x+15 = (x-3)(x-5)
x^2-3x-10 = (x-5)(x+2)
x^2+3x+2) = (x+1)(x+2)
I did the two parts separately and then flipped what was left and I ended up with (x+1)/x.  You try it.