I think you can simplify rational expressions if you cancel out like factors
example if 2x + 8 is the numerator and (x - 4)(x + 4) is the denominator, first factor the 2x + 8, it will become 2(x+4) , now you can cancel both x+4 then the answer willbecome 2 over x-4 . 2 as the numerator and x-4 as the denominator
