Need College Algebra factoring help!!

Question

What are factors of -12 that have a sum of 0? This is for the problem m-12 over m^2-144. I have already factored out m^2-144 and got (m-12)(m+12). However, I can not figure out how to factor m-12. Do I leave it as m-12 or is there a different way?

Answer 1

The sum of these factors=0: -12, -6, -4, -3, -2, -1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12

Your "break down" is correct. I feel you did enough unless you want to do -12; but then; since you do m-12 in one location; you may as well do it in the 2nd location. I'd leave it as is.

Answer 2

What you need to do from here is factor the numerator and denominator:

(m - 12) / (m + 12)(m - 12)

Both the numerator and denominator have an m - 12 in common, so those factor out, giving you an answer of:

1 / (m + 12)