Expression in lowest terms

[Helen]

Can someone help me with this?
y^2 + 3y - 10/ y^2 + 2y - 15
I need this in lowest terms and have come up with this answer.
3y -10/ 2y - 15
Am I working this out in the right way?

 

[royhaas]

Be careful about your notation. Use parentheses to be clear about what you mean. I assume you are supposed to factor the numerator and denominator first. Your answer is not consistent with any reasonable explanation of your expression.

 

[Deleted member 4993]

Can someone help me with this?
y^2 + 3y - 10/ y^2 + 2y - 15
I need this in lowest terms and have come up with this answer.
3y -10/ 2y - 15
Am I working this out in the right way?

I assume your expression is:

\(\displaystyle \frac{y^2+3y-10}{y^2+2y-15}\)

then factorize the numerator and the denominator

\(\displaystyle \frac{(y+5)(y-2)}{(y+5)(y-3)}\)

Do we have a common factor in the numerator and the denominator?

If no - then you have reached the simplified state (nothing else to do)

If yes - then eliminate (cancel) the common factors to simplify.

 

[Helen]

Subhotosh Khan, Thank you for your help and instruction. Appreciated!. Helen