Simplify: \(\frac{x^2 - 5x - 14}{x^2 - 9x + 14}\)

Answer Details

To simplify the fraction, we need to find a common denominator for the numerator and denominator. The denominator, \(x^2 - 9x + 14\), can be factored into the product of two binomials: \((x - 7)(x - 2)\). Now, to simplify the numerator, we can factor it as well: \(x^2 - 5x - 14 = (x - 7)(x + 2)\). With this factoring, we can cancel out the common factor of \(x - 7\) in the numerator and denominator, leaving us with the simplified fraction: \(\frac{x^2 - 5x - 14}{x^2 - 9x + 14} = \frac{(x - 7)(x + 2)}{(x - 7)(x - 2)} = \frac{x + 2}{x - 2}\). So the simplified fraction is.