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A Teaching- Learning Package in Mathematics 8

Teacher: Maryland V. Pasilan

Method: Inductive Method
TLP 10: Definition and Simplifying Rational Expression
Objectives: Through the discussion and examples, the students will be able to:
1. Define and illustrate a rational expression;
2. Evaluates and simplifies algebraic expressions involving integral exponents;
3. Simplifies rational algebraic expressions.

A. ACTIVATION
Preparation

Match it to me!
Present the verbal phrases below.
Instructions: There are verbal phrases below. Look for the mathematical phrase in the figures that corresponds
to the verbal phrases. Write the number on the shape that corresponds the answer.

1. The ratio of number x and four added by two.

2. The product of square root of three and the number y.
3. The square of a added by twice the a.
4. The sum of b and two less than the square of b.
5. The product of p and q divided by three
6. One – third of the square of c.
7. Ten times a number x increased by six
8. Cube of the number z decreased by nine.
9. Cube root of nine less than number w.
10. Number h raised to four.

Part II. (Recall what is a polynomial)

Questions:
1. What are the polynomials in the activity “Match It To Me”? List these polynomials under set P.
2. Describe these polynomials.
3. In the activity, which are not polynomials? List these non – polynomials under set R.
4. How do these non – polynomials differ from the polynomial?
5. Describe these non – polynomials.

In the activity “Match It to Me”, the non – polynomials are called rational algebraic expressions.

Write your initial definition on rational algebraic expressions in the appropriate box.

My Initial Definition My final definition(To be done after discussion)

Presentation
Rational algebraic expression is a ratio of two polynomials provided that the numerator is not equal to zero. In
P
symbols: ,where P and Q are polynomials and Q ≠ 0.
Q
Why do you think the denominator should not be equal to zero?

B. BUILDING – UP
Comparison and Abstraction

Here are some examples.

5x 6 x− y
1. 2.
2 1
5 x+ 1
3. 4.
x x−2

A rational expression is said to be in lowest terms when its numerator and denominator have no
common factor other than 1.
The restriction in the definition of a rational expression is that the denominator must not be equal to
zero. So you must know how to find the restricted value or values and describe the meaningful replacement as
the domain. To find the restricted values of the denominator, set the denominator equal to zero, then solve the
equation.

Example 1

y +9
y−4
Solution: y-4 = 0 Equate denominator 4 to zero
y=4 Solve for y.
Therefore, y ≠ 4.

This means that y should not be equal to 4 so that the denominator will not be equal to 0.

Example 2

m−5
2
m −7 m+ 10
Solution:
2
m −7 m+10 = 0 Equate the denominator to 0.
(m-5)(m-2) = 0 Factor the denominator.
(m-5)=0 or (m-2)=0 Equate each factor to 0.
m=5 or m=2 Simplify.
Therefore , m ≠ 5 or 2.

Try This #1!

Give the restricted values for the variable/s of each rational expressions.
2x y+ 3
1. 2. 2
x−5 y −2 y+ 1
[Students are tasked to solve it and they will be called to explain their answers.]

How do you simplify a fraction to lowest or simplest form?

 Simplifying a rational expression is similar to simplifying a fraction. Factoring plays an important
role to both.in a fraction you factor numbers, while in a rational expression you factor polynomials.

Recall important patterns in factoring polynomials.

To recall, students are tasked to give an example orally.
1. Prime Factorization
Examples: a. 6x2 =3•2•x•x
b. 20a2bc = 2•2•5•a•a•b•c
2. Polynomials with Common Monomial Factor
Example: 5x2 -10x = 5x(x-2)
3. Perfect Square Trinomial and Other trinomials
Example: 2x2+11x+5
4.Different of Two squares
Example:25y2-36 = (5y+6)(5y-6)
5. Sum and Difference of Two Squares
Example:x3-8 = (x-2)(x2+2x+4)
6. Factoring Completely
Example: 3x4 -24x = 3x(x3-8)
= 3x(x-2)(x2+2x+4)

Simplify the following rational expressions:

Example 1
2
8x 2 •2 •2 • x • x • y
2 = Factor numerator and denominator.
12 x y 2• 2• 3• x • y • y
2• 2• x • y 2•x
= × Cancel out the common factors.
2• 2• x • y 3• y
2x
= Divide both numerator and denominator by the common factor.
3y
2
8x 2x
2 =
12 x y 3y

Example 2

5 x−15
2 x−6

Solution:
5 x−15 5(x−3)
= Factor denominator and numerator. Cancel x-3
2 x−6 2(x−3)

Try This #2!

Simplify the following.
2
15 a b 3 x−15
1. 2.
15 ab 4 x−20
[Students are tasked to solve it and they will be called to explain their answers.]

5 1
= or 2
2 2

Example 3
2 8
25 x y
3 5
10 x y
Solution:
 2 8 2 5 3
25 x y 5 x y •5 y
3 5 = 2 5 Factor then cancel 5 x 2 y 5
10 x y 5x y •2x
3
5y
=
2x

Try This #3!

Simplify the following.
2 2
2 x −4 x x −25
1. 2.
2 x−4 4 x +20
[Students are tasked to solve it and they will be called to explain their answers.]

Example 4
2
x −2 x−35
2
x +7 x +10

Solution:
2
x −2 x−35 ( x +5)(x−7)
= Numerator and Denominator: Apply the rules in factoring a
2
x +7 x +10 (x +5)(x +2)
trinomial
x−7
= Cancel x+5
x +2

Example 5
2
m + m−6
2
m −4
2
m + m−6 (m+3)(m−2)
Solution: = Numerator: Apply the rules in factoring a trinomial;
2
m −4 (m+2)(m−2)

Denominator: Apply the rules in factoring the difference if two squares

m+ 3
= Cancel m-2.
m+ 2

Example 6
2
a +6 a+ 5
2
a +2 a+1

Solution:
2
2 a + 7 a+5 (a +5)(a+1)
= Numerator and Denominator: Apply the rules in factoring a
2
a +2 a+1 ( a+1)(a+1)
trinomial

=
Try This #4!
Simplify the following.
2 2
x + x−6 x −10 x +25
1. 2 2. 2
x +6 x +9 25−x
[Students are tasked to solve it and they will be called to explain their answers.]

a+5
Cancel a+1
a+1

In examples 2 to 6, what pattern have you observed in simplifying?

Cancellation is the shortcut method of dividing numerator and denominator by the common factor.
To simplify a rational expression -

 Factor both numerator and denominator.

 Divide both numerator and denominator by their greatest common factor (GCF)
 Multiply the remaining factors and their product is the rational expression in the simplest form.

The rational expression in the simplest form if both numerator and denominator have no common factor
except 1and -1.

Generalization

Fill in the blanks with the correct term/ phrase.

1. A fraction whose numerator and denominator are polynomials is called ______________________________.
2. A fraction is said to be in ______________________________ when the numerator and denominator have no
common factors.
2
x + x +1
3 – 4. In the expression , the polynomial x2 + x + 1 is called the ______________________ and the
x−1
polynomial x -1 is called the _________________________.
5. Division by 0 is _________________________.

Pair Activity!
Classify Me!
Using the given pairs, the students are tasked to classify the following expressions.
Directions: Classify the different expressions below into rational algebraic expression or not rational algebraic
expression. Write the expression into the appropriate column.

C. CULMINATION
EVALUATION

A. Give the restricted values for the variable/s of each rational expressions.
3 5x
1. 4.
b−3 x−6
2
y+ 2 x + 4 x−5
2. 5. 2
2 y +1 x −6 x +5
2 x−3
3. 2
x +3 x−10

B. Simplify the following.

5 x−5 y 3 x−6
1. 4. 2
5 x+5 y x −7 x+10
 2 2 2
x −y y −2 y−3
2. 5. 2
7 x+7 y y −9

3 x+ 6
3. 2
x +7 x +10

C. Show your solutions.

APPLICATION
HOURS AND PRINTS !
Students are grouped into 4 groups. With their groups, they need to prepare an out for the following problem. It
will be graded according to mathematical reasoning and accuracy.

The JOB Printing Press has two photocopying machines. P1 can print box of bookpaper in three hours while P2
can print a box of bookpaper in 3x + 20 hours.
a. How many boxes of bookpaper are printed by P1 in 10 hours? In 25 hours? In 65 hours?
b. How many boxes of bookpaper can P2 print in 10 hours? in 120x + 160 hours? in 30x2 + 40x hours?