GENERAL MATHEMATICS

RATIONAL Equations,
Inequalities, and Functions
Week 5 Lesson 3
 GENERAL MATHEMATICS

LEARNING TARGETS
I can:
❑ distinguish rational function, rational
equation, and rational inequality
❑ solve rational equations and
inequalities

“No human investigation can be called real science if it

cannot be demonstrated mathematically.”
~Leonardo da Vinci
 GENERAL MATHEMATICS

REVIEW CONCEPTS
What are RATIONAL expressions?
A rational expression is a polynomial divided by
another polynomial.

How do we simplify rational expressions?

To simplify, we cancel common factors both in the
numerator and in the denominator.
 GENERAL MATHEMATICS

REVIEW CONCEPTS
How do we perform basic operations
involving RATIONAL expressions?
If the rational expressions have the same denominator,
we add/subtract the numerators. Otherwise, we find the
LCD to make them similar rational expressions.
When multiplying rational expressions, we multiply the
expressions in the numerators and then in the
denominators.
When dividing rational expressions, we multiply the
reciprocal of the divisor.
 GENERAL MATHEMATICS

BASIC CONCEPTS
When two polynomial functions are expressed as
quotient, a rational function is formed. Given two
polynomial functions P and Q, the function is
𝑷(𝒙)
defined by 𝒇 𝒙 = is a rational function.
𝑸(𝒙)

The domain of any rational function is the set of all real

numbers except the zeroes of the denominator.
 GENERAL MATHEMATICS
EXAMPLES:
Tell whether each of the following functions is a rational function.
3
a) 𝑓 𝑥 =
𝑥+2

𝑥−2 2𝑥
b) 𝑓 𝑥 = +
𝑥+2 𝑥−2

c) 𝑓 𝑥 = 3𝑥
1
d) 𝑓 𝑥 = 4𝑥 2

e) 𝑓 𝑥 = 3𝑥 −4 + 5𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 1
 GENERAL MATHEMATICS

SOLVING RATIONAL EQUATIONS

A rational equation is an equation indicating that two
expressions, with at least one term written as a rational
expression, are equal.
Examples:
a) 𝑥 + 5 3 b) 𝑥 + 2 𝑥 − 2
= =
2𝑥 4 𝑥+4 𝑥+2
 GENERAL MATHEMATICS

SOLVING RATIONAL EQUATIONS

Examples:
a) 𝑥 + 5 3 b) 𝑥 + 2 𝑥 − 2
= =
2𝑥 4 𝑥+4 𝑥+2
 GENERAL MATHEMATICS

SOLVING RATIONAL EQUATIONS

Examples:
c) 𝑥 − 4 4𝑥 + 5
− =0
−2 2𝑥 + 3
 GENERAL MATHEMATICS

SOLVING RATIONAL EQUATIONS

Examples:
d) 1 4
2
+1= 2
𝑥 +𝑥 𝑥 +𝑥