simplify expression 9m^2-1/3m+3

Question

simplify expression 9m^2-1/3m+3

Answer 1

As shown below, this factors, but that is as far as you can take it:

[(3m-1)(3m+1)]/[3(m+1)]

Answer 2

Starting with:

[9m^2-1]/[3m+3]

factoring the denominator:

[9m^2-1]/[3(m+1)]

rewriting the numerator as:

[(3m)^2-1^2]/[3(m+1)]  "difference of squares" -- special case factoring

[(3m-1)(3m+1)]/[3(m+1)]

canceling like-terms:

(3m-1)/3

or

m - 1/3