What is the simplified form of the rational expression below?

[tex]\[ \frac{5x^2 - 5}{3x^2 + 3x} \][/tex]

A. [tex]\(\frac{5(x + 1)}{3x}\)[/tex]

B. [tex]\(\frac{5(x + 1)}{3}\)[/tex]

C. [tex]\(\frac{5(x - 1)}{3}\)[/tex]

D. [tex]\(\frac{5(x - 1)}{3x}\)[/tex]



Answer :

To simplify the rational expression [tex]\(\frac{5x^2 - 5}{3x^2 + 3x}\)[/tex], let's go through the steps one by one:

1. Factor the numerator and the denominator:

The numerator is [tex]\(5x^2 - 5\)[/tex]. This can be factored as:
[tex]\[ 5x^2 - 5 = 5(x^2 - 1) \][/tex]
Notice that [tex]\(x^2 - 1\)[/tex] is a difference of squares, which can be factored further:
[tex]\[ 5(x^2 - 1) = 5(x - 1)(x + 1) \][/tex]

The denominator is [tex]\(3x^2 + 3x\)[/tex]. This can be factored by factoring out the common term [tex]\(3x\)[/tex]:
[tex]\[ 3x^2 + 3x = 3x(x + 1) \][/tex]

2. Rewrite the rational expression with these factored forms:
[tex]\[ \frac{5x^2 - 5}{3x^2 + 3x} = \frac{5(x - 1)(x + 1)}{3x(x + 1)} \][/tex]

3. Cancel the common factors in the numerator and the denominator:
Both the numerator and the denominator have a common factor of [tex]\(x + 1\)[/tex]:
[tex]\[ \frac{5(x - 1)\cancel{(x + 1)}}{3x\cancel{(x + 1)}} = \frac{5(x - 1)}{3x} \][/tex]

So, the simplified form of the rational expression [tex]\(\frac{5x^2 - 5}{3x^2 + 3x}\)[/tex] is [tex]\(\frac{5(x - 1)}{3x}\)[/tex].

Thus, the correct answer is:
D. [tex]\(\frac{5(x-1)}{3 x}\)[/tex]

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