Harris R dela Cruz

Mathematics Department
De La Salle University Manila
College Algebra
De La Salle University
Division of Polynomials
Equivalent Algebraic Fractions
Operations on Algebraic Fractions
Complex Fractions
Algebraic Expression Topic
College Algebra
De La Salle University
An Algebraic Fraction is a fraction which
is the quotient of algebraic expressions.
If the numerator and the denominators
are polynomials, then we call it Rational
Expressions. If both the numerators and
denominators are again fraction, then
we call it Complex Fraction.
RATIONAL EXPRESSION
Definition
College Algebra
De La Salle University
A fraction is said to be in lowest termor
in its simplest formif the numerator and
the denominator contain no common
factor other than 1 or -1.
LOWEST TERM
y
x
ay
ax
=
Definition
College Algebra
De La Salle University
Reduce the following to lowest term.
1.
5 2
2 3
36
27
y x
y x
3
4
x
3
y
3
4
3
y
x
=
Example
College Algebra
De La Salle University
Reduce the following to lowest term.
2.
) (
) )( (
y x
y x y x

+
=
y x
y x

2 2
y x + =
Example
College Algebra
De La Salle University
Reduce the following to lowest term.
3.
) 2 )( 3 (
) 2 )( 5 (
+
+
=
x x
x x
6
10 3
2
2


x x
x x
) 3 (
) 5 (

=
x
x
Example
College Algebra
De La Salle University
Reduce the following to lowest term.
1.
2.
25 10
25
2
2
+

x x
x
x x x
x x
24 20 4
16 2
2 3
4
+

Try This
College Algebra
De La Salle University
Reduce the following to lowest term.
1.
2.
) 5 )( 5 (
) 5 )( 5 (

+
=
x x
x x
5
5

+
=
x
x
) 3 )( 2 ( 4
) 4 2 )( 2 ( 2
2

+ +
=
x x x
x x x x
) 3 ( 2
) 4 2 (
2

+ +
=
x
x x
Try This
College Algebra
De La Salle University
If a, b, c and d are polynomials, then
To multiply fractions
To divide fractions
MULTIPLICATION/DIVISION OF FRACTION
bd
ac
d
c
b
a
=
bc
ad
c
d
b
a
d
c
b
a
= =
Definition
College Algebra
De La Salle University
Find the product then reduce the answer to
lowest term.
1.
2.
15
14
21
10

2
3
2
3
9
4
=
y x
y x x

2
4
) (
) ( 4
) ( 2
y x
y x x

=
2
2
x
=
Multiplication
College Algebra
De La Salle University
Find the product then reduce the answer to
lowest term.
3.
4.
2 6
5 3
7
3 5
7
14
10
2
z y
z x
x
y x

3
3
5
2
y
xz
=
5
2
x
3
y
3
z
5
3
10 5
30 15
2
2 3
+
+

x
x
x x
x x
) 5 )( 2 ( 5
) 3 )( 2 ( 15
2
+
+
=
x x x
x x x
3
x
) 5 (
) 3 ( 3
+
+
=
x
x x
Multiplication
College Algebra
De La Salle University
Find the product then reduce the answer to
lowest term.
5.
1 8
1 2 4
1 2
1 2
3
2

+ +

x
x x
x
x
) 1 2 4 )( 1 2 )( 1 2 (
) 1 2 4 )( 1 2 (
2
2
+ + +
+ +
=
x x x x
x x x
1 2
1
+
=
x
Multiplication
College Algebra
De La Salle University
b
a
d
c

c
d
b
a
=
bc
ad
=
Multiply the dividend by the
RECIPROCAL of the
divisor.
Division
College Algebra
De La Salle University
Find the quotient then reduce the answer to
lowest term.
1.
3
5 2 3 5
15
2
5
4
z
y x
z
y x

5 2
3 3 5
2
15
5
4
y x
z
z
y x
=
2
2 3
6
y
z x
=
Multiply the dividend
by the
RECIPROCAL of
the divisor.
2
3
3
x
2
y
2
z
Division
College Algebra
De La Salle University
Find the quotient then reduce the answer to
lowest term.
2.
3
4
3 2
7 8
2
2

+ +
x
x
x x
x x
4
3
3 2
7 8
2
2
+

+ +
=
x
x
x x
x x
) 4 )( 1 )( 3 (
) 3 )( 1 )( 7 (
+ +
+ +
=
x x x
x x x
) 4 (
) 7 (
+
+
=
x
x
Division
College Algebra
De La Salle University
Find the quotient then reduce the answer to
lowest term.
3.
2
1
10 3
6 5
2
2
2

+

x
x
x x
x x
) 1 )( 1 (
2
) 2 )( 5 (
) 1 )( 6 (
+

+
+
=
x x
x
x x
x x
) 1 )( 5 (
6
+

=
x x
x
Division
College Algebra
De La Salle University
18
20
32
24
. 1
35
49
75
105
. 2
5 8 2
2 7 4
54
72
. 3
z y x
z y x
2 6 3
3 2 5
144
108
. 4
c b a
c b a
4 7
8 2
8
5 4
28
10
5
14
. 5
z y
z x
x
y x

Try This
College Algebra
De La Salle University
2 3 4
2 3
40 12 4
28 18 2
. 6
x x x
x x x
+
+
x x x
x
24 20 4
16 2
. 7
2 3
4
+

2
4
16
8 6
. 8
2
2
+

+ +
x
x
x
x x
4
4
6
12
. 10
2 2
2

+

x
x
x x
x x
2 2
2 2
2
2
18 27 4
18 9 2
9 12
6 4
. 9
y xy x
y xy x
xy x
y xy
+ +
+

Try This
College Algebra
De La Salle University
18
20
32
24
. 1
35
49
75
105
. 2
5 8 2
2 7 4
54
72
. 3
z y x
z y x
2 6 3
3 2 5
144
108
. 4
c b a
c b a
) 6 )( 3 (
) 5 )( 4 (
) 8 )( 4 (
) 8 )( 3 (
=
7 7
7 5
15 5
15 7

=
3
2
3
4
yz
x
=
c b
a
4
2
4
3
=
6
5
=
1 =
Try This
College Algebra
De La Salle University
2 3 4
2 3
40 12 4
28 18 2
. 6
x x x
x x x
+
+
) 2 )( 5 ( 4
) 2 )( 7 ( 2
2
+

=
x x x
x x x
) 5 ( 2
) 7 (
+

=
x x
x
4 7
8 2
8
5 4
28
10
5
14
. 5
z y
z x
x
y x

2 2
4
y x
z
=
Try This
College Algebra
De La Salle University
2
4
16
8 6
. 8
2
2
+

+ +
x
x
x
x x
) 2 )( 4 )( 4 (
) 4 )( 2 )( 4 (
+ +
+ +
=
x x x
x x x
1 =
x x x
x
24 20 4
16 2
. 7
2 3
4
+

) 3 )( 2 ( 4
) 4 2 )( 2 ( 2
2

+ +
=
x x x
x x x x
) 3 ( 2
) 4 2 (
2

+ +
=
x
x x
Try This
College Algebra
De La Salle University
4
4
6
12
. 10
2 2
2

+

x
x
x x
x x
2 2
2 2
2
2
18 27 4
18 9 2
9 12
6 4
. 9
y xy x
y xy x
xy x
y xy
+ +
+

) 4 (
) 2 )( 2 (
) 3 )( 2 (
) 3 )( 4 (

+
+
=
x
x x
x x
x x
) 6 )( 3 2 (
) 6 )( 3 4 (
) 3 4 ( 3
) 3 2 ( 2
y x y x
y x y x
y x x
y x y
+
+ +

=
) 2 ( + = x
x
y
3
2
=
Try This
College Algebra
De La Salle University
Fractions with the same denominators
are called similar fractions. To add
similar fractions, we add the numerators
and copy the denominator.
SIMILAR FRACTION
d
b a
d
b
d
a +
= +
d
b a
d
b
d
a
=
Definition
College Algebra
De La Salle University
Example: and
Factoring 12 and 18, and
LCM =
The Least Common Multiple (LCM) of
two or more polynomials is the product
of all the highest power of each factor
appearing in each polynomial.
LEAST COMMON MULTIPLE (LCD)
3 2
12 y x
y x
3
18
3 2 2
3 2 y x y x
3 2
3 2
3 3 2 2
3 2 y x
Definition
College Algebra
De La Salle University
Example:
Find the LCM of
and
Factoring completely, we get
and
So the LCM is
) 4 4 ( 24
2
+ x x 144 36
2
x
2 3
) 2 ( 3 2 x ) 2 )( 2 ( 3 2
2 2
+ x x
) 2 ( ) 2 ( 3 2
2 2 3
+ x x
College Algebra
De La Salle University
Similar Fractions
Non-similar Fractions
d
b a
d
b
d
a +
= +
LCD
c
d
LCD
a
b
LCD
d
c
b
a
+
= +
d b LCM LCD and of =
Addition and Subtraction
College Algebra
De La Salle University
Example:
1.
2.
3.
6 6
5 x x
+
6
5 x x +
=
6
6x
= x =
x x 5
8
5
2
+
x 5
10
=
x 5
2 5
=
x
2
=
y x
y
y x
x
2
4
2
2

y x
y x
2
4 2

=
y x
y x
2
) 2 ( 2

= 2 =
Addition and Subtraction
College Algebra
De La Salle University
Example:
4.
2 2 2
5
7
5
8
5
6
xy
b a
xy
b
xy
a +

2
5
) 7 ( 8 6
xy
b a b a +
=
2
5
7 8 6
xy
b a b a
=
2
5
15 5
xy
b a
=
2
5
) 3 ( 5
xy
b a
=
2
3
xy
b a
=
Addition and Subtraction
College Algebra
De La Salle University
Example:
5.
xy
z
yz
x
xz
y
4 2
3
3
2
+
xyz
z z x x y y
12
) 3 ( ) 6 ( 3 ) 4 ( 2 +
=
xyz
z x y
12
3 18 8
2 2 2
+
=
Addition and Subtraction
College Algebra
De La Salle University
Example:
6.
6
5
9
6
2 2

x x x
) 2 )( 3 (
5
) 3 )( 3 (
6
+

+
=
x x x x
) 2 )( 3 )( 3 (
) 3 ( 5 ) 2 ( 6
+ +
+ +
=
x x x
x x
) 2 )( 3 )( 3 (
15 5 12 6
+ +
+
=
x x x
x x
Addition and Subtraction
College Algebra
De La Salle University
Example:
6.
6
5
9
6
2 2

x x x
) 2 )( 3 )( 3 (
3
+ +

=
x x x
x
) 2 )( 3 (
1
+ +
=
x x
Addition and Subtraction
College Algebra
De La Salle University
1. 4.
2. 5.
3. 6.
5
25 10
5
2

x
x
x
x
2
4
2
4
2

+
+

x x
x x
3
2
6 2
1 3

+
x
x
x
x
x x x 4
20 5
2

+
1
4
1
1
2

+
x x
x
8 6
2
10 7
3
2 2
+ +

+ + x x
x
x x
x
Try This
College Algebra
De La Salle University
1.
2.
3.
5
25 10
5
2

x
x
x
x
2
4
2
4
2

+
+

x x
x x
3
2
6 2
1 3

+
x
x
x
x
2 = x
5 = x
2
1
=
Try This
College Algebra
De La Salle University
4.
5.
6.
x x x 4
20 5
2

+
1
4
1
1
2

+
x x
x
8 6
2
10 7
3
2 2
+ +

+ + x x
x
x x
x
4
5

=
x
1
3
+
+
=
x
x
) 4 )( 5 ( + +
=
x x
x
Try This
College Algebra
De La Salle University
A fraction whose numerator and/or
denominator are also fraction. Complex
fraction can be tought of as quotient of
two fractions
COMPLEX FRACTION
c
d
b
a
d
c
b
a
d
c
b
a
= =
Definition
College Algebra
De La Salle University
Example:
1.
2.
x
x
x
3
1
2
+
x
x
x
3
1
1
2
+
=
x
x x
3
1
1
2 +
=
1
3
1
2
+
=
x
x x
1
6
2
+
=
x
x
6
7
4
3
3
1
2
1
+

|
.
|

\
|
+
|
.
|

\
|
=
6
7
4
3
3
1
2
1
12
23
6
1
=
23
2
=
Complex Fraction
College Algebra
De La Salle University
Example:
3.
2
3
9
4
3
2
x
x
x

+
2
2
9 4
3 2
x
x
x
x

+
=
2
2
9 4 3 2
x
x
x
x

+
=
) 3 2 )( 3 2 (
3 2
2
+

+
=
x x
x
x
x
3 2
=
x
x
Complex Fraction
College Algebra
De La Salle University
Example:
4.
3
1 1
3
3
+

x
x
x
x
x
x
x
3
3
3
9
2
+

=
x
x
x
x
3
3
3
9
2
+

=
x
x
x
x x
+

+
=
3
3
3
) 3 )( 3 (
3 = x
Complex Fraction
College Algebra
De La Salle University
1. 3.
2. 4.
y
x
x
y
1
1

2
2
6 1
1
9
1
x x
x

2
2
2
2
8 2
1
16
1
x
y
x
y
x
y

y
x
x
y
1
1
+
+
Try This
College Algebra
De La Salle University
1. 3.
2. 4.
y
x
x
y
1
1

2
2
6 1
1
9
1
x x
x

2
2
2
2
8 2
1
16
1
x
y
x
y
x
y

y
x
x
y
1
1
+
+
2
3
+
+
=
x
x
x
y
=
y x
y x
2
4
+
+
=
x
y
=
Try This