To simplify the expression \(\frac{(x-5)(x+17)}{(x+17)(x-16)}\), you can cancel out the common factors in the numerator and denominator:
\[ \frac{(x-5)(x+17)}{(x+17)(x-16)} = \frac{\cancel{(x-5)}(x+17)}{(x+17)\cancel{(x-16)}} \]
This simplifies to:
\[ \frac{x+17}{x+17} \]
The final simplified expression is \(1\), as the common factor \((x+17)\) cancels out.