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Can (x+2) be cancelled out by (x-2)

(x+2 ) / (x-2)

So (x+2) is in the numerator and (x-2) is in the denominator

According to my textbook they both cancel out and make 1.

Is this true?

I don't see how it works because they're both not the same meaning that one is +2 and the other is -2

Thank you
(edited 2 years ago)
nope imagine is x was 10
12 cant be cancelled out by 8
Reply 2
Original post by Advanced-08234
(x+2 ) / (x-2)

So (x+2) is in the numerator and (x-2) is in the denominator

According to my textbook they both cancel out and make 1.

Is this true?

I don't see how it works because they're both not the same meaning that one is +2 and the other is -2

Thank you

You are right to say that the answer is "no", unless there is a bit more context in the text book about the particular situation they are talking about. Can you show us a photo of where they say this?
Original post by Pangol
You are right to say that the answer is "no", unless there is a bit more context in the text book about the particular situation they are talking about. Can you show us a photo of where they say this?

https://imgur.com/a/gxvzP1B

Here you go.

Thank you
Original post by POP977NOW
nope imagine is x was 10
12 cant be cancelled out by 8

That's really confusing because my textbook is saying otherwise. Is my textbook incorrect?

https://imgur.com/a/gxvzP1B

Thank you
Original post by Advanced-08234
That's really confusing because my textbook is saying otherwise. Is my textbook incorrect?

https://imgur.com/a/gxvzP1B

Thank you



The text book is canceling things across both halves of the multiple, after you multiply both fractions together
(edited 2 years ago)
Reply 6
Original post by Advanced-08234
https://imgur.com/a/gxvzP1B

Here you go.

Thank you

Ah I see now. They are cancelling the x - 2 in the numerator of the first fraction with the x - 2 in the denominator of the second, and vice versa for the x + 2.
Original post by Pangol
Ah I see now. They are cancelling the x - 2 in the numerator of the first fraction with the x - 2 in the denominator of the second, and vice versa for the x + 2.

Oh, I see. Do you think I should go over fractions again? I haven't done fractions in a while, but I don't really have trouble with fractions in general.

Thank you
(edited 2 years ago)
Original post by mnot
The text book is canceling things across both halves of the multiple, after you multiply both fractions together

I think I need to go over fractions again because I had no idea about this.

Thank you
Let's see this from a different perspective.
I believe that you said x+2/x-2 = 1

Use the case x=2

What is that you get? 4/0 and that cannot be one but infinity.

Now the case x not equal to 2

What do you get? Solve the equation
x+2= x-2 ending up with a contradiction 2=-2

Now that I had a look at the question and it isn't what you have described.
x+2 in the numerator cancels another x+2 in the denominator and likewise for x-2

Original post by Advanced-08234
(x+2 ) / (x-2)

So (x+2) is in the numerator and (x-2) is in the denominator

According to my textbook they both cancel out and make 1.

Is this true?

I don't see how it works because they're both not the same meaning that one is +2 and the other is -2

Thank you
(edited 2 years ago)

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