Simplifying Rational Expressions

Consider the rational expression given by:

$$ R(x) = \f\frac{2x^2 + 8x + 6}{4x^2 + 16x + 12} $$

First, simplify the expression to its lowest terms by factoring the numerator and denominator. Then, determine the value of the simplified expression at $x = -3$. Provide your answer in the grid, including both the fraction and decimal representations.