GENERAL MATHEMATICS

Module 2, Lesson 5: Solving Rational Equations and Inequalities

I. Overview:
 This lesson will demonstrate an understanding of key concepts of functions.
II. Objectives:
 Solves rational equations and inequalities.
III. Content Outline:
 Please take time to read and understand this part because all graded activities and
quizzes will be coming from these contents.
Recall the definition of a polynomial function.
POLYNOMIAL FUNCTION
 A polynomial function p of degree n is a function that can be written in
n 1 n2
the form p ( x)  an x  an 1 x  an  2 x  ...  a1 x  a0
n

Where 0 1 2
a , a , a ,..., an   , an  0 , and n is a positive integer. Each added
of the sum is a term of the polynomial function. The constants
a0 , a1 , a2 ,..., an are the coefficients. The leading coefficient is an . the
n
leading is an x , and the constant term is a0 .
RATIONAL FUNCTION
p( x)
f ( x) 
 A rational function is a function of the form q ( x) where p (x)

and q(x) are polynomial function and q ( x)  0 . Domain of f (x) is the

set of all values of x where q ( x)  0 .

 If p (x) and q(x) are polynomials with no common factor and

p( x)
f ( x) 
q ( x) for q ( x)  0 , then f (x) is called a rational function.

DOMAIN
 The  domain  of a  function f(x) is the set of all values for which the
function is defined. 
 The domain of a rational function consists of all the real
numbers x except those for which the denominator is 0 . To find
these x values to be excluded from the domain of a rational
function, equate the denominator to zero and solve for x.
RANGE
  the  range  of the function is the set of all values that f takes.

Example 1: Find the domain of each rational function.

1
f ( x) 
a. x2

Solution: Since x  2  0 only for x  2 , the domain of f is the

set all real numbers except -2,  x : x  2} .
2x  3
f ( x) 
b. x2  4

Solution: Since x  4  0 for x  2 the domain of f is the set of

2

all real numbers excluding 2 and -2,  x : x  2 and x  2 .

RATIONAL EXPRESSION
 A rational expression is an expression that can be written as a ratio of two
polynomials.

2 x2  2x  3 5
, , and
Some examples of rational expressions are x x 1 x3.

The definitions of rational equations, inequalities, and functions are shown

below.

Rational
Rational Inequality Rational Function
Equation
A function of the form
p( x)
An equation f ( x) 
An inequality q ( x) where p (x) and
involving
Definition involving rational q(x) are polynomial functions
rational
expressions.
expressions. and q(x) is not the zero
function (i.e., q ( x)  0 ).
2 3 1 5 2 x2  2x  3
Example    f ( x) 
x 2x 5 x 3 x x 1
 A rational equation or inequality can be solved for all x values that satisfy the
equation or inequality. A rational function expresses a relationship between two
variables (such as x and y), and can be represented by a table of values or a
graph.
Example 2: Determine whether the given is a rational function, a rational
equation, a rational inequality or none of these.
2 x
8
1. x  1 (Answer: Rational Equation)

2. x  x  2 (Answer: None of these)

x3
f ( x)  6 
3. x2  5 (Answer: Rational Function)
7
2x 
4. x4 (Answer: Rational Inequality)
x 4

5. 2 x  9 x
3
(Answer: Rational Equation)

 RATIONAL EQUATION
To solve a rational equation:
a. Eliminate denominators by multiplying each term of the equation by
the least common denominator (LCD).
b. Note that eliminating denominators may introduce extraneous
solutions. Check the solutions of the transformed equations with the
original equation.

2 3 1
Example 3. Solve for x: − =
x 2x 5

Solution. The LCD of all the denominators is 10x. Multiply both

sides of the equation by 10x and solve the resolving equation.
2 3 1
10 x
x ()
−10 x
2x ( )()
=
5
10 x

20−15=2 x
5=2 x
5
=x
2
 To Check:
2 3 1
 
x 2x 5
2 3 1
 
5 5 5
2 
2 2
2 3 1
2   
5 5 5
4 3 1
 
5 5 5
43 1

5 5
1 1

5 5
x 1 8
Example 4. Solve for x: − = 2
x+2 x−2 x −4

Solution. Factor each denominator in the rational expression.

x 1 8
− =
x+2 x−2 ( x +2)( x−2)

Multiply the LCD to both sides of the equation to remove the denominators.
x 1 8
[ ( x+ 2 ) (x−2)] ( ) ( ) [(
x +2
−
x−2
x +2 ) ( x−2) ]=[ ( x +2 ) (x−2) ]
( (x+ 2)(x−2) )
x ( x−2 )−( x+ 2 )=8
x2  2x  x  2  8

x 2  3x  2  8  0

x 2  3 x  10  0
Upon reaching this step, we can use strategies for solving polynomial equations.

x 2  3 x  10  0  ( x  2)( x  5)  0

x +2=0 → x−5=0
x=−2 → x =5
 Since x = -2 makes the original equation undefined, x = 5 is the only solution.

 RATIONAL INEQUALITIES
To solve rational inequalities:
1. Write the inequality in the standard form. One side must be zero and the other side is a
single rational expression which we denoted by f (x) .

2. Find the critical numbers. These are the zeros of f (x) and the excluded values of f (x) . Set
the numerator and denominator of f (x) equal to zero and solve.

3. Divide the number line into intervals according to the critical numbers obtained in step 2.

4. Choose a test value in each interval in step 3, and construct a table. Substitute the test value
to f (x) and determine the sign of the resulting answer. The sign of this answer (positive or
negative) will be the sign of the entire interval. You can check using different number from the
same interval if you want to verify your answer.

5. Use the table in step 4 to determine which intervals satisfy the inequality. If the inequality is
of the form f ( x)  0 or f ( x)  0 then all of the intervals with the negative sign are solutions.
In addition, the zeros of f (x) are part of the solution if f ( x)  0 . On the other hand, if the
inequality is of the form f ( x )  0 or f ( x)  0 then all of the intervals with the positive sign are
solutions. In addition, the zeros of f (x) are part of the solution if f ( x)  0 .

Warning! Multiplying both sides of an inequality by a number requires that the sign (positive or
negative) of the number is known. Since the sign of a variable is unknown, it is not valid to multiply
both sides of an inequality by a variable.
2x
Example 5. Solve the inequality ≥1.
x+1
Solution:
1. Write the inequality in standard form.

2x
1
x 1
2x
1  0
x 1 Subtract 1 from both sides.

2 x  ( x  1)
0
x 1 Combined left side into a single rational expression.
 x 1
0
x 1 Standard form: f ( x)  0
x 1
Where f ( x) 
x 1
2. Find the critical numbers by finding the zeros of f (x) and the excluded values for
f (x)

Zeros of f (x) excluded values of f (x)

( x  1)  0 ( x  1)  0
x 1 x  1
The critical numbers are 1, and -1.

3. Plot the critical numbers in the number line to separate it into two intervals:
(,1), (1,1), and (1, )

( ,1) -1<x<1 (1,)

-1 1
4. Choose a test value in each interval in step 3, and construct a table. Substitute the
test value of f (x) and determine the sign of the resulting answer. The sign of this
answer (positive or negative) will be the sign of the entire interval.

Interva x <-1 x >1

-1< x <1
l
Test
x  2 x0 x2
value
1
f (x) 3 -1
3
Sign of
f (x) + - +

5. Use the table to determine which intervals satisfy inequality. Since, the inequality is of
the form f ( x)  0 then the solution is x>1. In interval notation, the answer is (1,)

-1 1
5 3
Example 6. Solve x  4 < x  1
Solution:
1. Write the inequality in standard form
 5 3
x  4 < x 1

5 3 3

x  4 x 1 < 0 Subtract x  1 from both sides.

5 
 ( x  1)( x  4) 
3
 x  4  x 1 < 0 Multiply both sides by the LCD ( x  1)( x  4) .
 5( x  1) 3( x  4)

( x  1)( x  4) ( x  1)( x  4) <0 Combined left side into a single rational expression.
 5x  5  3 x  12

( x  1)( x  4) ( x  1)( x  4) <0

 8x  7  8x  7
f ( x) 
( x  1)( x  4) <0 Standard form: f (x) <0 Where ( x  1)( x  4)

2. Find the critical numbers by finding the zeros of f (x) and the excluded values
for f (x)

Zeros of f (x) excluded values of f (x)

 8x  7  0 ( x  1)( x  4)  0

 8 x  7 x  1 or x  4

7
x
8
7
x
8
3. Plot the critical numbers in the number line to separate it into four intervals:
 7 7 
( ,1),   1, ,  ,4 , and ( 4,)
 8 8 
 7
  1, 
 8 7 
 ,4 
( ,1) 8  ( 4,)

-8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8
 4. Choose a test value in each interval in step 3, and construct a table. Substitute
the test value of f (x) and determine the sign of the resulting answer. The sign
of this answer (positive or negative) will be the sign of the entire interval.

7 7
Interval x <-1 x >4
-1< x < 8 8 < x <4
Test value x  2 x0 1 x5
23 7 1 11
f (x)  
6 4 6 2
Sign of f (x) + - + -

5. Use the table to determine which intervals satisfy the inequality. Since the
7
inequality is of the form f (x ) <0 then the solution is -1< x < 8 or x >4. In
 7
  1,   (4,)
interval notation, the answer is  8 . This solution can be graphed in
a number line.

-8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8

IV. Activities:

Solve each function.

3 2 x +3
1. − =0
x+1 x −3

2 x+1
2. ≥0
3 x −2

c6 3 c4
2
 2 
3. 4c 2c 2c 2
4 7 3
 
4. y  1 2  y y  1
 10 2b  5 2b  5
 
5. b
2
b 1 b 1

V. Assignment:
Solve the following and graph the inequality.
x−1
1. >0
x+3
x2  5x
0
2. x3