Name: ____________________________________ Period: _____

Packet 20: Solving Fractional Equations

We want to “get rid” of the denominators!

Step 1: Find the least common denominator for the equation

Step 2: Multiply every term in the equation by the least common denominator

Step 3: Reduce each term to create a “denominator free” equation

Step 4: Solve for the variable using the steps to solve an equation

Example:

x 3x 7
+ =
10 5 2

Step 1: Find the least common denominator

The least common denominator is _______

Step 2: Multiply every term in the equation by the least common denominator

x 3x 7
( _____ ) + ( _____ ) = ( _____ )
10 5 2

Step 3: Reduce each term to create a “denominator free” equation

Step 4: Solve for the variable using the steps to solve an equation

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 Let’s Try It!
Remember to follow the four steps

4x x
(1)     12 - =
3 6

4y 2y
(2) - = 10
9 3

x 2x -7
(3) - =
3 5 15

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 Fractional Equations Practice

Follow the four steps to solve the following equations. Show all of your work!
5x x 51 x + 3 3x
1) + = 2)     - =7
8 12 24 5 10

x -4 x y+5
3)     - =6 4)    + 4 = -16
4 3 3

x x
 5)     -3 =
4 3

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Fractional Equations Homework

Follow the four steps from class to solve the equations below.  Show all of your work and make 
sure to put a box around your answer.
2x + 4 2x - 4
1)    -6 = 8 2)  9 + = 81  
5 3

x 4x 5x
3)   - = -1 4)   - 9 = 31
1 3 4

x x r -6
5)   - 4 = -3 + 6)   r + =6
4 2 9

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 If there is only 1 fraction in the equation:
1 : Multiply EVERY piece of the equation by the denominator of that fraction.
st

2nd: The fraction will disappear and you can proceed as usual!
x x 2
1) - 9 = 11 2) - 4 = 5 3) x + 16 = 64
5 -3 3

If there are 2 or more fractions in the equation:

1 : Find the Least Common Denominator (LCD) of all of the denominators
st

2nd: Multiply EVERY piece of the equation by the LCD

*Remember to put all (binomials in parentheses) before multiplying!
3 : Simplify and solve!
rd

LCD: ___ LCD: ___ LCD: ___

x x 7x x 3 5 x 7
4) + = 12 5) - = 6) + =
5 7 10 5 2 4 2 6

LCD: ___ LCD: ___

x - 3 x - 25 x + 5 x - 1 x - 1
5) - = 4 6) + =
6 5 2 2 3

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☼ Make sure you distribute and watch out for the
negative!

x x 3
1) + 10 = 1 2) - 8 = 15 3) x-7 = 8
4 7 4

x x x x 7x 3x
4) - = 2 5) + = 10 6) - = 1
3 6 3 7 8 8

3x 3 1 10x - 3 3x + 3 1 1x 11 4 3x
7) + = 8) - = - 9) - = -
2 10 5 10 5 10 5 3 3 5

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Fractional Equations Homework

x x
1) + 3 = 5 2) + 21 = 14
6 8

2x 1x 2x x
3) + = 22 LCD: ___ 4) =9 -
3 4 5 2

x + 3 3x 3x 5x 1
5) - = 7 6) - = -
5 10 4 8 2

7) Solve for x: 8) Using order of operations,

5x – (x + 3) = 7 + 2(x + 2) evaluate:
3[4 – 8 + 42(2 + 5)]

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9) Perform the indicated operation and express your answer in scientific notation:

4.2 �102
7 �105

_________________________

Match each equation with the property it illustrates.

Properties may be used more than once!

___10) 6 + (10 + 8) = (6 + 10) + 8

___11) 6 + 10 = 10 + 6
A) Additive Identity
___12) –10 + 0 = –10 B) Additive Inverse
10 5
___13) � = 1 C) Associative Property
5 10
___14) 7(x – 13) = 7x – 91 D) Commutative Property

___15) 0 + 16 = 16 E) Distributive Property

___16) 20 + (–20) = 0 F) Multiplicative Identity

G) Multiplicative Inverse
___17) 3(2) = 2(3)

___18) 5(6 • 3) = (5 • 6)3

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1. − 8x − 2 = − 26 2. − 1.5 = 0.5x + 7

3. ( 5x + 1 ) – ( 2x – 6 ) = 7 4. 6x + 1 3x − 10 = − 63

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5. 3 ( 2x – 1 ) = 7x + 2 6. 4x − ( 6x – 8 ) = x + 18

7. + 6 = 8 8. − = 2

9. − = − 17 10. + =

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