need to see the steps so i can simplify need help

Question

I am simplifying a fraction to lowest terms  a^2 -4b^2/a+2b

 

 

Answer 1

We can look at the problem as

 (a*a) - (2b*2b)                                                      a                               

________________  .            We know that            _____        = 1      

      (a+2b)                                                              a

 

 So we now have        a - (2b*2b)                         

                               ____________  

                                       2b

 

     2b

   ____       = 1             so we are left with    a-2b    which is the answer.

     2b  

   

                            

Answer 2

The difference of squares states: a² - b² = (a + b)(a - b)

Assuming that your fraction is:  (a² - 4b²)/(a + 2b)

The numerator could be rewritten: [(a)² - (2b)²]/(a + 2b)

Using difference of squares, the numerator could be factored:  [(a - 2b)(a + 2b)]/(a + 2b)

Since both the numerator and the denominator contain (a + 2b), the factors cancel leaving: a - 2b

The final answer is a - 2b.