Multiply or divide, as indicated. See Example 3. xz - xw + 2yz - 2yw 4z + 4w +xz +wx —————————— • ————————— z² - w² 16 - x²
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Factor the denominators: Recognize that both denominators are differences of squares. For the first fraction, factor \(z^2 - w^2\) as \((z - w)(z + w)\). For the second fraction, factor \$16 - x^2\( as \)(4 - x)(4 + x)$.
Simplify the numerators: The first numerator \(xz - xw + 2yz - 2yw\) can be factored by grouping. Group terms to get \(x(z - w) + 2y(z - w)\), which can be factored further as \((x + 2y)(z - w)\). The second numerator \$4z + 4w + xz + wx\( can be grouped as \)4(z + w) + x(z + w)\(, which factors to \)(4 + x)(z + w)$.
Rewrite the expression: Substitute the factored forms into the expression. The expression becomes \(\frac{(x + 2y)(z - w)}{(z - w)(z + w)} \cdot \frac{(4 + x)(z + w)}{(4 - x)(4 + x)}\).
Cancel common factors: Notice that \((z - w)\) and \((z + w)\) appear in both the numerator and denominator of the fractions. Cancel these common factors to simplify the expression.
Combine the simplified expression: After canceling, multiply the remaining factors to get the simplified expression.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Factoring Differences of Squares
The expression z² - w² is a difference of squares, which can be factored into (z - w)(z + w). This concept is crucial for simplifying expressions involving quadratic terms, allowing for easier manipulation and cancellation in algebraic fractions.
Simplifying polynomials involves combining like terms and factoring to reduce expressions to their simplest form. This is essential in the given problem to manage the complexity of the numerator and denominator, making it easier to perform multiplication or division.
Rational expressions are fractions where the numerator and/or denominator are polynomials. Understanding how to multiply and divide these expressions, including finding common factors and simplifying, is key to solving the problem presented, as it involves manipulating such expressions.