Choose the appropriate simplified expression? Not too hard-just invloves factoring?

Question

5 - 4x^2 - 5x + 1/x^2 - x

a.) 4x - 1/ x

b.) x+1/x

c.) 4x+1

d.) x-1

My problem this time is that I don't know how to factor 4x^2 - 5x + 1? Please help?

Answer 1

If this is problem number 5 (the 5 at the beginning of the problem), I think this is what you're looking for:

4x^2 - 5x +1

-----------------     use FOIL to factor:

x^2 - x

(4x -1)(x-1)

----------------    canceling the like terms (x-1)

x(x-1)

4x-1

------

x

so the answer is a.

Next time, put parentheses around each part of the problem:

(4x^2 - 5x +1) / (x^2 - x)