Algebra II: Operations with Fractional Polynomials

ProcrastiNote: A School Simplified Organization

Last Updated: January 30, 2022

Contents

1 Introduction 1

2 Important Terms 2

3 Multiplying Fractional Polynomials 3

3.1 Examples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

4 Dividing Fractional Polynomials 4

4.1 Examples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

5 Adding Fractional Polynomials 6

5.1 Examples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

6 Subtracting Fractional Polynomials 8

A Credits 11

A.1 Contributions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

A.2 External Sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

A.3 Image Credits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

B Extra Resources 11

1 Introduction

Objective: to be able to multiply, divide, add, and subtract fractional polynomials.

Algebra II Operations with Fractional Polynomials

Operations with Polynomials

Polynomial: an algebraic expression with only real number coefficients, whole number exponents for
placeholders, and with placeholders only able to be multiplied and added.

2x − 4y x2 + 8
·
x2 + 4 2x − 4y

70y 3 14y 2
÷
y2 − 10y + 25 5 − y

x −2
+
x2 − 4 4 − x2

2x2 − 20 4 13
+ −
2x2 − x − 1 x − 1 2x + 1

2 Important Terms

• Algebraic Expression: also known as literal expressions. A symbol or group of symbols made of numbers,
letters,grouping symbols, placeholders, and operations. Algebraic expressions do not contain equal signs.

• Coefficients: a group of symbols who with another group of symbols, make a complete term.

• Least Common Multiple:the smallest expression that is a multiple of many expressions and/or numbers.
For example, the least common multiple of (x + 2)(x − 1) and (x − 1)(x + 3) is (x + 2)(x − 1)(x + 3).

• Polynomial: an algebraic expression with only real number coefficients, whole number exponents for place-
holders, and with placeholders only able to be multiplied and added.

• Real Numbers: All numbers. Natural numbers, whole numbers, integers, rational numbers, and irrational
numbers (positive numbers, positive numbers including zero, positive and negative numbers including
zero, positive and negative numbers including decimals).

• Rational Expression (Algebra) : a fraction which can be written in the form of x

y in which x and y are poly-
nomials and y 6= 0.

• Restricted Values : Values which wont be substituted for placeholders. In algebra, restricted values are val-
ues that would make the denominator equal to zero.

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Algebra II Operations with Fractional Polynomials

3 Multiplying Fractional Polynomials

Multiplying Fractional Polynomials

Polynomial :an algebraic expression with only real number coefficients, whole number exponents for
placeholders, and with placeholders only able to be multiplied and added.
4x2 y 3z 2
9yz · 8x
y 3 −27 y 2 −6y+9
y 2 −9 · y−3

3.1 Examples

Example 1:

x2 − 9 x2 + 5x + 6
·
2x2 + 5x + 2 x2 + 6x + 9

1. Start by combining both of the polynomials.

(x2 − 9)(x2 + 5x + 6)
(2x2 + 5x + 2)(x2 + 6x + 9)

2. Factor the numerator and denominator.

(x + 3)(x − 3)(x + 2)(x + 3)

(2x + 1)(x + 2)(x + 3)(x + 3)

3. Find like factors.

(x
+3)(x − 3)
 (x+2)
 (x+3)

(2x + 1)
(x + 2)
  (x + 3)
  (x + 
 3)

4. Simplify the like factors to one.

x−3
2x + 1

5. Now that we simplified the expression, we can easily find the restricted values.

Start with the first fraction 2x2 + 5x + 2 = 0

(2x + 1)(x + 2)

2x + 1 = 0

Add −1 to both sides

2x = −1
1
Multiply both sides by 2

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Algebra II Operations with Fractional Polynomials

−1
x= 2

(x + 2)

Add −2 to both sides.

x = −2

Now x2 + 6x + 9 = 0

(x + 3)(x + 3)

(x + 3)

x + 3− = 0

Add -3 to both sides.

x = −3

(x + 3)

x + 3− = 0

Add -3 to both sides.

x = −3

4 Dividing Fractional Polynomials

Dividing Fractional Polynomials

4x2 − 1 2x − 1
÷
x2 − 4 x−2

z 2 − 16 3z − 12
÷ 2
z2 − 10z + 25 z − 3z − 10

4.1 Examples

Example 1:

x2 + 3x − 10 x2 − 4
÷ 2
2x + 6 x − x − 12

1. Invert the second fraction.

(x2 + 3x − 10)(x2 − x − 12)

(2x + 6)(x2 − 4)

2. Factor the expression further.

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Algebra II Operations with Fractional Polynomials

(x + 5)(x − 2)(x − 4)(x + 3)

(2)(x + 3)(x + 2)(x − 2)

3. Find like factors.

(x + 5)
(x−2)(x − 4)
 (x+3)
(2)
(x+ 3)(x + 2)
 (x− 2)


4. Simplify like factors to 1.

(x + 5)(x − 4)
(2)(x + 2)

or

x2 + x − 20
2x + 4

5. Now we can find the restricted values of the first fraction.

2x + 6

Factor

2 6= 0

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Algebra II Operations with Fractional Polynomials

(x + 3)

x+3=0

Add -3

x = −3

6. Find the restricted values from the second fraction.

x2 − x − 12 Factor

(x − 4)

x-4=0

Add 4

x=4

(x + 3)

x+3=0

Add -3

x = −3

5 Adding Fractional Polynomials

Adding Fractional Polynomials

Least Common Multiple:the smallest expression that is a multiple of many expressions and/or numbers.
For example, the least common multiple of (x + 2)(x − 1) and (x − 1)(x + 3) is (x + 2)(x − 1)(x + 3).

x 2
+
x2 − 4 4 − x2

5x + 4
+ (8x − 5)
3x + 1

5.1 Examples

Example 1:

x 2
+
x2 − 4 4 − x2

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Algebra II Operations with Fractional Polynomials

1. because the denominators differ in only signs, we can change the sign of one as long as we also change the
sign of its numerator.
x −(2)
+
x2 − 4 −(4 − x2 )

x −2
+
x2 − 4 x2 − 4

2. Now that both fractions have the same denominator, we can add the numerators and keep the same de-
nominator.
x−2
x2 − 4

3. Factor.
(x − 2)
(x + 2)(x − 2)

4. Identify like factors that will simplify to 1.

(x
 −2)
(x + 2)
(x−2)


5. Use the original denominators to find the restricted values.

start with the first fraction.

x2 − 4 = 0

Factor

(x + 2)

x+2=0

Add -2 to both sides

x = −2

(x − 2)

x−2=0

Add 2 to both sides

x=2

Now the second fraction.

4 − x2 = 0

(2 + x)(2 − x)

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Algebra II Operations with Fractional Polynomials

(2 + x)

2+x=0

Add -2

x = −2

(2 − x)

2−x=0

Add -2

−x = −2

Multiply by -1

x=2

So the restricted values are 2 and -2.

6 Subtracting Fractional Polynomials

Subtracting Fractional Polynomials

Least Common Multiple:the smallest expression that is a multiple of many expressions and/or numbers.
For example, the least common multiple of (x + 2)(x − 1) and (x − 1)(x + 3) is (x + 2)(x − 1)(x + 3).

y−9 7−y
−
y 2 − 16 16 − y 2

2x2 − 20 13
2
−
2x − x − 1 2x + 1

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Algebra II Operations with Fractional Polynomials

Example 1:

2x2 − 20 13
−
2x2 − x − 1 2x + 1

1. Write −x as a difference.
2x2 − 20 13
−
2x2 + x − 2x − 1 2x + 1

2. Factor x out.
2x2 − 20 13
−
x(2x + 1) − (2x − 1) 2x + 1

3. Factor 2x + 1 out.
2x2 − 20 13
−
x(2x + 1)(x − 1) 2x + 1

4. write all numerators above the least common denominator.

2x2 − 20 − 13(x − 1)
(2x + 1)(x − 1)

5. Distribute -13.
2x2 − 20 − 13x + 13
(2x + 1)(x − 1)

6. Find the sum of −20 an 13 in the denominator.

2x2 − 13x − 7
(2x + 1)(x − 1)

7. Write −13x as a difference.

2x2 + x − 14x − 7
(2x + 1)(x − 1)

8. Factor x and −7 out of the expression.

x(2x + 1) − 7(2x + 1)
(2x + 1)(x − 1)

9. Factor 2x + 1 out of the expression.

(2x + 1)(x − 7)
(2x + 1)(x − 1)

10. Identify like factors that will simplify to 1.

(2x
 +1)(x − 7)
(2x
  +
 1)(x
 − 1)
x−7
x−1

11. Use the original denominators to find the restricted values.

Begin with 2x2 − x − 1

(2x + 1)(x − 1)

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Algebra II Operations with Fractional Polynomials

12. Start with the first denominator.

(2x + 1)

2x + 1 = 0

Add -1 to both sides

2x = −1

Divide both sides by 2

1
x=
2

(x − 1)

x−1=0

Add 1 to both sides

x=1

2x + 1

(2x + 1)

2x + 1 = 0

Add -1 to both sides

2x = −1

Divide both sides by 2

1
x=
2

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Algebra II Operations with Fractional Polynomials

Appendices

A Credits

A.1 Contributions

• Drafted by P.N. Addmen

• Contributions by:

– ProcrastiNote. Team

– Connnor Tributor

– Ashlee-Marie Joseph

A.2 External Sources

Google

A.3 Image Credits

• Clock: Veronica Cruz

B Extra Resources

• All resources mentioned retain the same licensing as the original creators intended. The ProcrastiNote
Team has checked every single one of these to make sure that our usage of their materials remains within
the legal realm. If you are the owner of these materials and you believe there is a mistake in our citations,
please contact us at official.procrastinote@gmail.com. Thanks!

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