For which values of x is the expression undefined?
start fraction, x, squared, minus, 4, divided by, x, squared, plus, 10, x, plus, 9, end fraction
x
2
+10x+9
x
2
−4
The expression is undefined when the denominator, which is x^2 + 10x + 9, is equal to zero.
To find the values of x that make the denominator zero, we can solve the quadratic equation:
x^2 + 10x + 9 = 0
By factoring or using the quadratic formula, we can find that x = -1 and x = -9 are the values that make the denominator zero.
Therefore, the expression is undefined for x = -1 and x = -9.