Solved on Feb 21, 2024

Simplify the expression x24x3x21x2x2\frac{x-2}{4 x^{3}} \cdot \frac{x^{2}-1}{x^{2}-x-2}.

STEP 1

Assumptions
1. We are given the expression x24x3x21x2x2\frac{x-2}{4 x^{3}} \cdot \frac{x^{2}-1}{x^{2}-x-2}.
2. We need to perform the multiplication of the two fractions.
3. We need to express the result in simplest form.
4. We assume xx is a variable that does not make any denominator zero.

STEP 2

First, factor the numerators and denominators where possible.
The numerator x21x^2 - 1 is a difference of squares and can be factored as (x+1)(x1)(x+1)(x-1).
The denominator x2x2x^2 - x - 2 can be factored as (x2)(x+1)(x-2)(x+1).

STEP 3

Rewrite the expression with factored terms.
x24x3(x+1)(x1)(x2)(x+1) \frac{x-2}{4 x^{3}} \cdot \frac{(x+1)(x-1)}{(x-2)(x+1)}

STEP 4

Before multiplying, cancel out any common factors in the numerator and the denominator.
The (x2)(x-2) terms cancel out, and one (x+1)(x+1) term cancels out.

STEP 5

The expression now simplifies to:
14x3x11 \frac{1}{4 x^{3}} \cdot \frac{x-1}{1}

STEP 6

Now perform the multiplication of the remaining terms.
1(x1)4x31 \frac{1 \cdot (x-1)}{4 x^{3} \cdot 1}

STEP 7

Simplify the expression by multiplying the numerators and denominators.
x14x3 \frac{x-1}{4 x^{3}}

STEP 8

The expression is now in its simplest form.
The final answer is x14x3\frac{x-1}{4 x^{3}}.

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