Algebra Examples

$\frac{x + 3}{(x - 1) (x + 3)}$

Step 1

Cancel the common factor of $x + 3$ .

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Step 1.1

Cancel the common factor.

$\frac{x + 3}{(x - 1) (x + 3)}$

Step 1.2

Rewrite the expression.

$\frac{1}{x - 1}$

Step 2

To find the holes in the graph, look at the denominator factors that were cancelled.

$x + 3$

Step 3

To find the coordinates of the holes, set each factor that was cancelled equal to $0$ , solve, and substitute back in to $\frac{1}{x - 1}$ .

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Step 3.1

Set $x + 3$ equal to $0$ .

$x + 3 = 0$

Step 3.2

Subtract $3$ from both sides of the equation.

$x = - 3$

Step 3.3

Substitute $- 3$ for $x$ in $\frac{1}{x - 1}$ and simplify.

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Step 3.3.1

Substitute $- 3$ for $x$ to find the $y$ coordinate of the hole.

$\frac{1}{- 3 - 1}$

Step 3.3.2

Simplify.

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Step 3.3.2.1

Subtract $1$ from $- 3$ .

$\frac{1}{- 4}$

Step 3.3.2.2

Move the negative in front of the fraction.

$- \frac{1}{4}$

Step 3.4

The holes in the graph are the points where any of the cancelled factors are equal to $0$ .

$(- 3, - \frac{1}{4})$

Step 4