Simplify (x^2-16)/(x-4)

$\frac{x^{2} - 16}{x - 4}$

Simplify the numerator.

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Rewrite $16$ as $4^{2}$ .

$\frac{x^{2} - 4^{2}}{x - 4}$

Since both terms are perfect squares, factor using the difference of squares formula, $a^{2} - b^{2} = (a + b) (a - b)$ where $a = x$ and $b = 4$ .

$\frac{(x + 4) (x - 4)}{x - 4}$

Cancel the common factor of $x - 4$ .

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Cancel the common factor.

$\frac{(x + 4) (x - 4)}{x - 4}$

Divide $x + 4$ by $1$ .

$x + 4$

Simplify (x^2-16)/(x-4)

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