What is the simplest form of x2+5x-36/x2-16

If you meant (x^2 + 5x - 36)/(x^2-16) then the answer is: (x+9)/(x-4)

Step-by-step explanation:

This is just factoring, you can use guess and check.

If you take just the numerator: x^2+5x-36 and factor. To factor consider -36, and the multiples that can add up to 5 (from 5x).

x^2 + 5x - 36/(x^2-16)

The denominator is actually a rule of (a+b)(a-b) which in this case (x+4)(x-4)

(x+9)(x-4)/(x-4)(x+4)

Now just divide like terms which is the (x-4)/(x-4)=1

(x+9)/(x+4)