MATH 2 RATIONAL ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS

OBJECTIVES:

At the end of this module, students will be able to:

1. define and illustrate a rational algebraic expression.

2. simplify rational algebraic expressions.

RATIONAL ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS

Recall that a rational number is any number that can be expressed as a quotient of two
integers such as
𝟐 𝟏 𝟑
, − , , 𝟖, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 − 𝟓𝟓
𝟑 𝟐 𝟒
8 55
Both 8 and -55 are rational numbers since they can be written as 1 and − 1
. Hence, all
integers are rational numbers.

When you divide a number by another number you have a fraction or a rational number.

When you divide a polynomial by another polynomial you have a Rational Algebraic
Expression.

A rational algebraic expression is a ratio of two polynomials provided that the denominator
𝑷
is not equal to zero. In symbols: 𝑸 where 𝑃 and 𝑄 are polynomials and 𝑄 ≠ 0. Having a zero as the
denominator makes the rational expression undefined or meaningless. The domain of a rational
expression is the set of numbers that are permissible to make the rational expression meaningful.
Here are some examples of algebraic expression:
1 𝑥2 − 𝑦2 3𝑦 + 5 5𝑎 2𝑐 + 𝑑
𝑦 𝑥+𝑦 𝑦+1 𝑥 2 2
3𝑐 − 5𝑑 + 1

Recall that division by zero is not permissible. The result would be meaningless. In a rational
expression, the quantity in the denominator is not equal to zero. It follows that values of the variable
in the denominator that would render its zero are not permissible. We may say that the said values
are restricted.

To find the value/s of the variable that will make the expression undefined or
meaningless:
1. Factor the denominator.
2. Equate each factor to zero.
3. Solve for the value of the variable.

Example 1:
𝟑
For what value of 𝑥 is 𝒙 meaningless?

3
Since x is the only denominator then is meaningless when 𝒙 = 𝟎.
𝑥
 MATH 2 RATIONAL ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS

Example 2:
𝟓
For what value of x is 𝒙+𝟔 meaningless?

The expression will be meaningless if the denominator is zero so we equate the

denominator to zero and solve for the value of 𝑥.
𝑥+6=0
𝑥+6−6=0−6 By Addition Property of Equality (APE)
𝑥 = −6

5
Answer: when 𝒙 = −𝟔, 𝑥+6 is meaningless or undefined

Example 3:
𝒙+𝟓
What value of 𝑥 will make 𝒙𝟐−𝟗 undefined?

Step 1: Factor the denominator: 𝒙𝟐 – 𝟗 = (𝒙 + 𝟑)(𝒙– 𝟑).

Step 2: Equate each factor to zero: 𝒙 + 𝟑 = 𝟎; 𝒙– 𝟑 = 𝟎

Step 3: Solve for the value of 𝑥:

𝒙+𝟑=𝟎 𝒙– 𝟑 = 𝟎
𝒙+𝟑−𝟑 =𝟎−𝟑 𝒙−𝟑+𝟑=𝟎+𝟑
𝒙 = −𝟑 𝒙=𝟑

𝑥+5
Answer: 𝑥 2 −9 is undefined when 𝒙 = −𝟑 or when 𝒙 = 𝟑

Example 4:
𝒙+𝟒
What are the non-permissible values for ?
𝒙 𝟐 −𝟑𝒙−𝟒

Step 1: Factor the denominator: 𝒙 𝟐 − 𝟑𝒙 − 𝟒 = (𝒙 + 𝟏)(𝒙 − 𝟒)

Step 2: Equate each factor to zero: 𝒙 + 𝟏 = 𝟎; 𝒙 − 𝟒 = 𝟎

Step 3: Solve for x:

𝒙+𝟏=𝟎 𝒙– 𝟒 = 𝟎
𝒙+𝟏−𝟏 =𝟎−𝟏 𝒙−𝟒+𝟒=𝟎+𝟒
𝒙 = −𝟏 𝒙=𝟒

Answer: 𝒙 − 𝟏, 𝒙 𝟒. This means 𝑥 may have any value except −1 and 4.

 MATH 2 RATIONAL ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS

SIMPLIFYING RATIONAL ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS

Recall that a fraction is in its simplest form (or lowest terms) when the common factor of the
numerator and the denominator is 1 or -1.

Simplifying a rational expression means modifying it to simpler or more desirable form. It

involves the removal of all common factors in the numerator and denominator.
A rational algebraic expression is said to be in lowest terms if the numerator and
denominators have no common factor other than 1 or –1.

To reduce rational algebraic expression to its lowest terms:

1. Factor the numerator and denominator completely.
2. Divide each numerator and denominator by the greatest common factor.

Example 1:
𝟑𝒙𝟑
Reduce to lowest terms
𝟗𝒙
𝟑𝒙𝟑 𝟑⋅𝒙⋅𝒙⋅𝒙
Step 1: Factor the numerator and denominator: 𝟗𝒙 𝟑⋅𝟑⋅𝒙
𝟑⋅𝒙⋅𝒙⋅𝒙 𝒙𝟐
Step 2: Divide each numerator and denominator 𝟑⋅𝟑⋅𝒙
= 𝟑
by the common factor.

𝟑𝒙𝟑 𝒙𝟐
Answer: The lowest term of 𝟗𝒙
is 𝟑
Example 2:
𝒙𝟐 −𝟒
Reduce 𝟑𝒙𝟑−𝟐𝟒 to lowest terms

𝑥 2 −4 (𝑥−2)(𝑥+2)
Step 1: Factor the numerator and denominator:
3𝑥 3 −24 3(𝑥−2)(𝑥 2 +2𝑥+4)
(𝑥−2)(𝑥+2)
Step 2: Divide each numerator and denominator 3(𝑥−2)(𝑥 2 +2𝑥+4)
𝑥+2
by the common factor: = 2
3(𝑥 +2𝑥+4)

𝑥 2 −4 𝒙+𝟐
Answer: The lowest term of 3𝑥3 −24 is 𝟑(𝒙𝟐+𝟐𝒙+𝟒)

Example 3:
𝒙−𝒚
Reduce to lowest terms.
𝒚−𝒙

𝑥−𝑦
Step 1: We have to factor out −1 either in the denominator
−1(𝑥−𝑦)
or numerator since 𝑥 − 𝑦 and 𝑦 − 𝑥 are opposites

𝑥−𝑦 1
Step 2: Divide each numerator and denominator −1(𝑥−𝑦)
= −1 = −1
 MATH 2 RATIONAL ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS

by the common factor:

𝒙−𝒚
Answer: The lowest term of is – 𝟏
𝒚−𝒙

Example 4:
𝒚𝟐 +𝟓𝒚+𝟒
Reduce 𝒚𝟐−𝟑𝒚−𝟒 to lowest terms.
𝑦 2 +5𝑦+4 (𝑦+1)(𝑦+4)
Step 1: Factor the numerator and denominator: 𝑦2 −3𝑦−4 (𝑦+1)(𝑦−4)
(𝑦+1)(𝑦+4)
Step 2: Divide each numerator and denominator (𝑦+1)(𝑦−4)
𝑦+4
by the common factor: = 𝑦−4

𝑦 2 +5𝑦+4 𝒚+𝟒
Answer: The lowest term of 𝑦2 −3𝑦−4 is 𝒚−𝟒

PRACTICE EXERCISE:
A. What is/are the non-permissible value/s for each rational algebraic expression? (Show your
solution)
𝟐
1.
𝒙
𝟐
2.
𝒎𝟐 −𝟑𝒎
𝒑𝟑 −𝟏
3. 𝒑𝟐 +𝟏

𝒎𝟐
4. 𝒎𝟐 −𝟓𝒎+𝟔
𝟐𝒙
5. 𝒙+𝟗

B. Simply the following algebraic expressions. (Show your solution)

21𝑎2 𝑏2
1. 28𝑎3 𝑏3

𝑥 2 −9
2.
𝑥 2 −7𝑥+12

𝑚2 +6𝑚+5
3. 𝑚2 −𝑚−2

𝑥 2 −5𝑥−14
4. 𝑥 2 +4𝑥+4
𝑏2 −9𝑎−22
5. 𝑏2 −13𝑎+22
 MATH 2 RATIONAL ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS

REFERENCES:
Grade 8 Math Teaching Guide
(2010). In E. A. Lopez, & V. L. Lopez, Elementary Algebra. Batnagas City: Light Bearers Publishing
House.