2x^2 - 2/x^2 - 4x - 5 First take a multiple of 2 out of the top
2(x^2-1)/x^2 - 4x - 5 factor the top and bottom
2(x - 1)(x + 1)/ (x - 5) (x + 1) Divide by
(x + 1)/(x +1)
2(x - 1) / (x - 5)
2x - 2 / x - 5 critical values are x = 5 and -1, set the denominator equal to 0. x = 5 is the only one that causes the denominator to = 0. The answer is all other real numbers.