Example

Example of Multiplying the Rational Functions f(x)=2x6x28x+15f(x) = \frac{2x - 6}{x^2 - 8x + 15} and g(x)=x2252x+10g(x) = \frac{x^2 - 25}{2x + 10}

To find the product R(x)=f(x)g(x)R(x) = f(x) \cdot g(x) of the rational functions f(x)=2x6x28x+15f(x) = \frac{2x - 6}{x^2 - 8x + 15} and g(x)=x2252x+10g(x) = \frac{x^2 - 25}{2x + 10}, follow the procedure for multiplying rational expressions:

Step 1. Factor each numerator and denominator completely: R(x)=2(x3)(x3)(x5)(x5)(x+5)2(x+5)R(x) = \frac{2(x - 3)}{(x - 3)(x - 5)} \cdot \frac{(x - 5)(x + 5)}{2(x + 5)}

Step 2. Multiply the numerators and denominators together: R(x)=2(x3)(x5)(x+5)2(x3)(x5)(x+5)R(x) = \frac{2(x - 3)(x - 5)(x + 5)}{2(x - 3)(x - 5)(x + 5)}

Step 3. Simplify the rational expression by dividing out the common factors of 22, (x3)(x - 3), (x5)(x - 5), and (x+5)(x + 5): R(x)=1R(x) = 1

Thus, the product of the two rational functions simplifies to 11.

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Updated 2026-04-30

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