MCR3U

UNIT #1 : RATIONAL EXPRESSIONS

SECTION PAGE NUMBERS HOMEWORK

Prerequisite __________ Worksheet
Skills
2.1 p. 83 – 85 #1ade (do by simplifying), 5ace, 6abc, 7 (only for x =
-2, -1, and 0), 9abc (only for x = 1.5m), 11ab
2.2 p. 94 Multiplying/Dividing #1ac, 2ac, 3bc, 4abc, 5ac, 6abc
p. 94 – 96 Adding/Subtracting #7aceg, 8ac, 9bd, 10, 11ac, 12,
17, 19
Review p. 142 #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
p. 144 #6, 8
 UNIT #1 : RATIONAL EXPRESSIONS

PREREQUISITE SKILLS

Operations with Fractions

* To add/subtract fractions:
1) Change the denominators to a lowest common denominator (LCD).
2) Convert the numerators.
3) Add/subtract the new numerators.
4) Make sure the final fraction is in simplest form.

* To multiply fractions:
1) Reduce diagonally where possible.
2) Multiply the numerators.
3) Multiply the denominators.
4) Make sure the final fraction is in simplest form.

* To divide fractions:
1) Multiply by the reciprocal.
2) Follow the same steps as multiplying fractions.

Examples : Simplify.

5 3 4 4 3 6 22
a) − + b) × c) ÷
8 4 5 9 8 11 5

Operations with Monomials

* To add/subtract monomials, you “Collect Like Terms”.

* To multiply/divide monomials, you use the Exponent Laws.

1) Multiplication Law : (x )(x ) = x

a b a +b

xa
2) Division Law : b
= x a −b
x
3) Power Law : (x )
a b
= x ab
 Examples : Simplify

a) 3x – 5y + 6x b) 4m2n – 3mn2 +6m2n + mn2 c) 3x(2xy)

d) 4x2y(2xy3) e)
8a 4 b 3
f)
(2m n ) (3mn )
2 5 2

2a 6 b 6m2n 3

Distributive Property

→ Expand brackets : a(b + c) = ab + ac

→ Multiply binomials (FOIL) : (a + b)(c + d) = ac + ad + bc + bd

Examples : Simplify.

a) (x – 2)2 + 7(x + 6) b) (x – 5)(x – 2) + 3x(x -1)

c) (2x + 1)(x – 3)(x + 4)

Factoring Polynomials

* Always look for a greatest common factor (GCF) first!

Ex. 8x3 + 6x2 = 2x2(4x + 3)

* If the expression is a binomial, look for a Difference of Squares.

Ex. x2 – 25 = (x + 5)(x – 5)

* If the expression is a trinomial in the form ax 2 + bx + c , look for the Sum and Product.
Ex. x2 + 9x + 20 = (x + 4)(x + 5) Ex. 2x2 – 5x – 3 = (2x + 1)(x – 3)

* Remember to factor fully where possible.

Ex. 3x2 – 48 = 3(x2 – 16) Ex. 2x3 – 14x2 + 24x = 2x(x2 – 7x + 12)
= 3(x + 4)(x – 4) = 2x(x – 3)(x – 4)
Examples : Factor fully.

a) 3a4b2 – 6a2b3 + 12ab 4 b) 36x2 – 49 c) 9a2 – 1

d) x2 – 5x - 14 e) 6a 2 + 9a − 6 f) 10 y 2 + 5y 3 − 5y 4

g) m 2 + 9mn + 20n 2 h) 4 a 2 − 25b 2 i) 6c 2 − 22cd − 40d 2

* To solve an equation by factoring :

1) Set one side of the equation = 0.
2) Factor the expression.
3) Set each factor = 0.
4) Solve for the variable from each factor.

Examples : Solve.

a) 5x2 + 30x = 0 b) 2a2 – 13ab + 6b2 = 0 c) c2 – 40 = -4

 NECESSARY SKILLS WORKSHEET

1. Simplify the following. Make sure your answers are in simplest form.
1 2 2 3 5 7 1
a) - b) + c) + -
6 3 9 4 8 12 3

−9 5 11 22 −7 −28
d) × e) ÷ f) ÷
10 6 15 21 12 18

2. Simplify the following algebraic expressions.

a) 6a2 - 5a + 3a + 7 – 2a2 + 4 b) 2x2 + xy – 6xy –3y2 + 2xy + 3x2 – y2 c) (-4p2q)(3p5q3)

d) (9fg2h)(2fg4) e) (5x3y)(-2xy3)2 f) (10a3b)(-2a2b3)

(-5a4b)2

g) 3(2a – 7b) + 2(a + 5b) h) (2x + 5)(x – 3) i) (x – 2)(4x + 3) – (3x – 2)2

3. Factor the following expressions.

a) 2a – 10b + 8c b) 8d2 + 20d c) m2 – 16 d) 9p2 – 49q2

e) x2 – 11x + 18 f) 2n2 – 5n – 12 g) 4a2 + 16ab + 15b2 h) c4 + 4c2 – 45

4. Factor fully.

a) 20a2 – 5 b) 2r3 – 72r c) 5m2 + 50mn + 120n2 d) 6x2 – 38x + 12

5. Solve by factoring.

a) 4a2 – 25b2 = 0 b) d2 + 3d – 88 = 0 c) 2m2 + 14m = 0 d) 6x2 – 15x = 9

Answer Key :
1 35 7 3 7 3
1. a) − b) c) d) − e) f)
2 36 8 4 10 8
4b2
2. a) 4 a 2 − 2a + 11 b) 5x 2 − 3xy − 4 y 2 c) − 12p 7 q 4 d) 18f 2 g 6 h e) 20x 5 y 7 f) − g) 8a − 11b
5a 3
h)2x 2 − x − 15 i) −5x 2 + 7 x − 10
3. a) 2( a − 5b + 4c) b) 4d(2d + 5) c) (m + 4)(m − 4) d) (3p + 7 q)(3p − 7 q) e) ( x − 2)( x − 9)
(2n + 3)(n − 4) g) (2a + 5b)(2a + 3b) h) (c 2 − 5)(c 2 + 9)
f)
4. a) 5(2a + 1)(2a − 1) b) 2r(r + 6)(r − 6) c) 5(m + 4n)(m + 6n) d) 2(3x − 1)(x − 6)
5 2 1
5. a) 2a + 5b = 0 or a = − b or b = − a b) d = 8, −11 c) m = 0, −7 d) x = − ,3
2 5 2
5 2
2a − 5b = 0 or a = b or b = a
2 5
 2.1 EQUIVALENT ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS

To determine if two expressions are equivalent, simplify both to see if they are algebraically the
same.

Checking several points may suggest that two expressions are equivalent, but it does not prove that
they are.

Example : Determine whether the pair of expressions are equivalent first by testing 3
different values of x, then by simplifying the expressions.

2(x – 1)2 + 3x – 2 and 2x2 – x

m
A rational number can be written in the form , where m and n are integers and n ≠ 0.
n
p
A rational expression can be written in the form , where p and q are polynomials, q ≠ 0.
q

Example : Determine whether the pair of rational expressions are equivalent by testing x-
values of -1, -6, and 6.

x 2 − 5x − 6 x +1
and
x 2 − 36 x+6
A value of a variable that makes the denominator equal to zero is called a non-permissable value or
a restriction on the variable.

To determine the restriction(s) on the variable(s) in a rational expression :

1) Factor the denominator, if possible.

2) Set each factor equal to zero and solve for the variable. These are the restrictions.

Example : For which value(s) of x is each rational expression not defined? (i.e. State the
restriction(s) on the variables.)

x +3 8a − 1 4m − 5
a) b) c)
x −2 3a 3

n2 + 1 2c + 1 2d − 7
d) e) f)
2n − 5 c2 − 9 d2 + 4

x+5
g)
x 2 + 3x − 28

Steps to simplifying rational expressions :

1) FACTOR first! → Both the numerator and denominator, where possible.

2) Cancel common factors from the numerator and denominator. → This reduces the fraction to
its simplest form.
3) Write the simplified expression as the final answer.
4) State the restrictions on the variable(s) in your final answer. → Look for the restrictions in
the factored denominators before you cancelled, not in the final answer.
Examples : Simplify each rational expression and state any restrictions on the variables.

4a 3m + 9 c 2 + 5c − 6
a) 2
b) c)
2a − 14a 5m + 15 c −1

2x − 8 2n 2 − 50 3a 2 − 13a + 4
d) e) f)
20 − 5x 2n 2 − 4n − 30 3a 2 + 6a − 72

4(d + 3) 2 (d − 1)
g)
6d 2 + 12d − 18
 2.2 OPERATIONS WITH RATIONAL EXPRESSIONS

MULTIPLYING & DIVIDING RATIONAL EXPRESSIONS

Remember the steps to multiplying and dividing rational numbers.

2 3 4 14
ex. × ex. ÷
9 8 5 15

Steps to multiplying rational expressions :

1) Factor, if possible, all numerators and denominators.

2) Cancel common factors within each fraction as well as diagonally.
3) Write the reduced expression as your final answer. Include restrictions in your final answer.
(Find the restrictions in the fully factored denominator, before any canceling.)

Examples : Simplify and state restrictions.

4a 3a 3 −3m 2m2 − m − 6
a) × b) 2
×
9b 10 ab m − 2m 4m 2 − 9

Steps to dividing rational expressions :

1) Factor, if possible, all numerators and denominators.

2) Multiply by the reciprocal.
3) Cancel common factors within each fraction as well as diagonally.
4) Write the reduced expression as your final answer. Include restrictions in your final answer.
Be sure to include in your restrictions the denominator of the second fraction before it was
flipped.
 Examples : Simplify and state restrictions.

16mn 2 10mn 6 5x + 10 x2 − 4
a) ÷ b) ÷
7m 3n 21m 4n 3 x 2 + x − 12 x 2 − 3x − 28

ADDING & SUBTRACTING RATIONAL EXPRESSIONS

Remember the steps to adding and subtracting rational numbers.

2 1 5 7
ex. + ex. −
3 5 6 12

Steps to adding and subtracting rational expressions :

1) Factor, if possible, all the denominators.

2) Determine the lowest common denominator, (LCD).
3) Convert the numerators.
4) Add/subtract the new numerators.
5) Make sure your final expression is fully simplified (reduced). Include restrictions in your final
answer.

Examples :

1. Simplify and state restrictions.

a 3a 2m − 1 5n 3 − m p + 3 p2 − 5
a) + b) + − c) +
2b 4b 2 mn 2m 8n 4 p2
 x +2 5 2 m−3
d) + e) +
x −3 x +1 m + 2 m2 − 4

5 n +1 n a+2 a−5
f) 2
− + g) −
2n − 5n − 3 2n − 6 2n + 1 3a − 1 1 − 3a

2. John and Steve are competing as a relay team in a 50km cycling race. Steve will race the
first half and John will race the second half.

a) Assuming that each cyclist travels at a different average speed, determine a simplified
d
expression to represent the total time of the race. (Hint : t = , where t represents the
v
time, d represents the distance and v represents the speed.)

b) If Steve can maintain an average speed of 25km/h and John an average speed of 35km/h,
determine the minimum time it will take to complete the race.