how do you simplify x^3-8/x^2-4?

Question

just need to know how to simplify x portion of equation

Answer 1

It suppose to be (x^3-8)/(x^2-4)

 

x^3-8 = (x-2)(x^2+2x+4)

x^2-4 = (x-2)(x+2)

therefore,

(x^3-8)/(x^2-4) = (x^2+2x+4)/(x+2)  <-- (x-2) cancelled out.

The answer is (x^2+2x+4)/(x+2)

 

 

Lee