RIZAL COLLEGE OF TAAL

Calle G. Marella, St. Taal, Batangas

General
Mathematics

Quarter I – Module 6:
Rational Equations and
Inequalities

SELF – LEARNING MODULE

 SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Subject Teacher: Ms. Roselle D. De Ocampo

Assistant Principal: Ms. Jerlyn V. Lopez

Principal: Mrs. Jacqueline T. Mortel, Ed.D

Office Address: Calle G. Marella, St. Taal, Batangas

For the learner:

Welcome to the General Mathematics–Grade 11 Self-Learning Module (SLM) on

Rational Equations and Inequalities!

This module was designed to provide you with fun and meaningful opportunities for
guided and independent learning at your own pace and time. You will be enabled to
process the contents of the learning resource while being an active learner.

This module has the following parts:

Objectives: This will give you an idea of the skills or competencies you
are expected to learn in the module.

Motivation: This part includes an activity that aims to check what you
already know about the lesson to take. It also includes a brief
drill or review to help you link the current lesson with the
previous one.

Instruction: This section provides a brief discussion of the lesson. This

aims to help you discover and understand new concepts and
skills.

Practice: This comprises activities for independent practice to solidify

your understanding and skills of the topic.

Enrichment: In this portion, another activity will be given to you to enrich

your knowledge or skill of the lesson learned. This also tends
retention of learned concepts.

Evaluation: This is a task which aims to evaluate your level of mastery in

achieving the learning competency.
 OBJECTIVES
At the end of this lesson, the students must be able to:

1. represent real-life situations using rational functions;

2. distinguish rational function, rational equation, and rational
inequality;
3. solve rational equations and inequalities.

MOTIVATION
Give My LCD!
Directions: Give the LCD of each of the following:
1 2
1. −5
2
1 3
2. + 5𝑎
2𝑎
2 5
3. − 2𝑚
3𝑚
4
4. 3 −
𝑥+2
5 2
5.
(𝑥−1)
+ (𝑥+1)

INSTRUCTION

Rational Equations and Inequalities

Rational Expression

A rational expression can be written in the form

𝐴
𝐵
where A and B are polynomials and B ≠ 0.

✓ Rational expressions are also called algebraic fractions.

The following are rational expressions:

7 𝑥2 − 𝑥 − 6 𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 + 10
, , 𝑎𝑛𝑑
𝑎𝑏 𝑥+2 𝑥+5
Simplifying Rational Expression

1. Factor the numerator and denominator.

2. Write a product of two rational expressions, one factor containing the GCF of the
numerator and denominator, and the other containing the remaining factors.

3. Rewrite the factor containing the GCF as 1.

4. Multiply the remaining factors by 1.

Example 1:

a2 +2a
Simplify
2a+4

Solution:

a2 +2a 𝑎(𝑎+2)
=
2a+4 2(𝑎+2)

𝑎
=
2

Adding and Subtracting Rational Expression with Like Denominators

1. Add (or subtract) the numerators.

2. Retain the common denominator.

3. Simplify the result.

Adding and Subtracting Rational Expression with Different Denominators

1. Find the least common denominator (LCD).

2. Write the equivalent expression of each rational expression.

3. Add or subtract the numerators and keep the LCD.

4. Simplify the result, if possible.

Example 2:
2𝑎 3
Find the sum of and
4𝑏 4𝑏

Solution:

2𝑎 3 2𝑎 + 3
+ =
4𝑏 4𝑏 4𝑏
Example 3:
8𝑑−3 4𝑑+12
Add and
9 9
Solution:

8𝑑 − 3 4𝑑 + 12 8𝑑 − 3 + 4𝑑 + 12
+ =
9 9 9
12𝑑+9
=
9

3(4𝑑+3)
= 9

4𝑑+3
= 3

Multiplying Rational Expression

1. Multiply the numerators and denominators.

2. Write the resulting numerator and denominator in factored form.

3. Divide out any numerator factor with matching denominator factor.

4. Simplify, if possible.

Example 4:

𝑎5 5
Multiply and .
10 𝑎3

Solution:

𝑎5 5 5𝑎5
. =
10 𝑎3 10𝑎3
5𝑎3 . 𝑎2
=
5𝑎3 . 2

𝑎2
=
2

Rational Equation

✓ A rational equation is an equation that contains one or more rational expressions.

Solving Rational Equation

1. Eliminate the rational expressions in the equation by multiplying both sides of the
equation by the LCD.

2. Solve the equation.

3. Check your solution.

Example 5:

Solve for x.

𝑥 1 𝑥 1 3 1
a. +4=2 b. =𝑥−2
5 4
Solution:

a. The LCD of the denominators is 20.

𝑥 1 𝑥
20[ + = ]20 Multiply both sides by the LCD, 20.
5 4 2
4x + 5 = 10x Apply the Distributive Property and then simplify.
5 = 6x Subtract 4x from both sides.
5
=𝑥 Divide both sides by 6.
6

Check:

𝑥 1 𝑥
+4 = 2 Rewrite the given.
5
5 5
6 1 6
+4= Substitute the value of x.
5 2

𝟓 𝟏 1 5 1
.𝟓 + = 6 .2 kapag tayo ay nagdidivide ng fraction
𝟔 4
first step natin is to get the reciprocal
of the dividend then from division
proceed to multiplication.
1 1 5
+ 4 = 12
6

2+3 5
= 12
12
5 5
=
12 12
5
So, 6 is the solution.

b. The LCD of the denominators is 4x.

1 3 1
4𝑥 [4 = 𝑥 − 2] 4𝑥 Multiply both sides by the LCD, 4x.
x = 12 – 2x Apply the Distributive Property and the simplify.
3x = 12 Add 2x to both sides.
x=4 Divide both sides by 3.
Check:
1 3 1
= 𝑥−2 Rewrite the given.
4
1 3 1
= 4−2 Substitute the value of x.
4
1 3 2
= 4−4
4
1 1
=
4 4

So, 4 is the solution.

Example 6:
𝑦+3 4
Solve: = 𝑦−1
𝑦−1

Solution:

To clear the equation of fractions, multiply both sides by the LCD which is y – 1.
𝑦+3 4
𝑦 − 1 [𝑦−1 = 𝑦−1] 𝑦 − 1 Multiply both sides by y – 1.

𝑦+3=4 Simplify.

𝑦=1 Subtract 3 from both sides.

Check:

𝑦+3 4
=
𝑦−1 𝑦−1
1+3 4
= 1−1 Substitute 1 for y.
1−1

4 4
=0 Division by 0 is undefined.
0

Because zeros appear in the denominators, the fractions are undefined. Thus, 1 is a false
solution, and the equation has no solution. Such false solutions are often called
extraneous solutions.

✓ An extraneous solution is an apparent solution that does not solve its equation.

Example 7:
𝑥+1 5
Solve: =3
𝑥−5

Solution:

The LCD is (x – 1) (3)

𝑥+1
(𝑥 − 5)(3) [
𝑥−5
= 53] (𝑥 − 5)(3)

3(x + 1) = 5(x – 5)

3x + 3 = 5x – 25

3 + 25 = 5x – 3x

28 2𝑥
=
2 2
14 = 𝑥

Check:
𝑥+1 5
=
𝑥−5 3
14 + 1 5
=
14 − 5 3
15 5
=
9 3
5 5
=
3 3
So, 14 is the solution.