MODULE 6

IN
MATHEMATICS 8
SECOND QUARTER

Unit 2
Rational Expressions

Lesson 1 Rational Expression and Its Domain

Chapter 1 Factoring
Lesson 4 Factoring General Trinomials pg. 1
 Unit II
Rational Expressions
Lesson 1 Rational Expression and Its Domain

Objectives
At the end of the lesson, students must be able to:

 Accurately classify whether an expression is a rational algebraic expression;

 Correctly determine the restricted values of a rational algebraic expression; and
 Correctly determine the domain of a given rational algebraic expression.

Learn about it!

Rational algebraic expression

A type of algebraic expression that can be written in the form of a fraction whose numerator
and denominator are polynomials.

You may think of a rational expression as a “ratio” (as in the word “rational”) of two
polynomials.
Numerator
x−3 V
2 Denominator
x +2 V

Domain of Rational Expression

Domain the set of all allowable values of x.
Since a rational expression is essentially a fraction, its denominator cannot be equal to 0.
Recall that a fraction with a zero denominator is undefined. The same is true for rational expressions.
Thus, you always have to know for which values of 𝑥 the rational expression you are solving will be
undefined.

As a function, the domain of any rational algebraic expression is always the set of real
numbers except the restricted values of 𝑥.

Restricted values are the values of the variable that make the denominator of a rational
algebraic expression equal to zero.

Example of Rational Expression

a+3
1.
a+2

Chapter 1 Factoring
Lesson 4 Factoring General Trinomials pg. 2
 x−3
2. 2
x +3 x−1

4 √x
3. Is the expression a rational algebraic expression?
x +3
Solution:
This is not a rational expression because of the radical term, √𝑥, in the numerator. Radical
expressions, like the square root of a variable, are not allowed in the numerator or denominator
because by definition, a rational expression must be the ratio of two polynomials. √𝑥 is not a
polynomial.

4 √x
Thus, is not a rational algebraic expression.
x +3

4. √
x2
a+1

5.
√4
a−2

Let’s Practice

Example 1
3 x +2
Given the expression
x−2
, find the value(s) of x for which it is undefined.
Solution:
Step 1:
Equate the denominator to 0.
x−2=0
Step 2:
Solve for the value of x.
x−2=0
x=2

Thus, the value of x , for which the rational expression is undefined, is 2.

Therefore, the restricted value of x is 2.

Chapter 1 Factoring
Lesson 4 Factoring General Trinomials pg. 3
Example 2
4 x−1
Find the value of x that makes the rational expression
3 x +2
Solution:
Step 1:
Equate the denominator to 0.
3 x+ 2=0
Step 2:
Solve for the value of x.
3 x+ 2=0
3x 2
=
3 3
2
x=
3
2
Thus, the value of x , for which the rational expression is undefined, is .
3
2
Therefore, the restricted value of x is .
3
Example 3
x+ y
What is the domain of 2
x +7 x +12
Solution:
Step 1:
Equate the denominator to 0.
2
x + 7 x+12=0
Step 2:
Factor the polynomial if possible.
2
x + 7 x+12=0
(x +3)(x+ 4)=0
Step 3:
Equate each factor to 0 and solve for the value of x
( x +3 )=0 ( x +4 )=0

x=−3 x=−4
Chapter 1 Factoring
Lesson 4 Factoring General Trinomials pg. 4
 Thus, the value of 𝑥 for which the rational expression is undefined are −3 and – 4 .
x+ y
Therefore, the domain of 2 is { x |x ≠−3 ,−4|}
x +7 x +12
Example 4
x +c
What is the domain of 2
x −3 x −28
Solution:
Step 1:
Equate the denominator to 0.
2
x −3 x−28=0
Step 2:
Factor the polynomial if possible.
2
x −3 x−28=0
(x−7)(x + 4)=0
Step 3:
Equate each factor to 0 and solve for the value of x
( x−7 )=0 ( x +4 )=0

x=7 x=−4

Thus, the value of 𝑥 for which the rational expression is undefined are −3 and – 4 .
x+ y
Therefore, the domain of 2 is { x |x ≠ 7 ,−4|}
x −3 x −28

References:
 Quipper
 https://mediacdn.quipper.com/media/
W1siZiIsIjIwMjAvMDgvMDMvMDIvMzEvMzUvMWZmN2UxMTctNDAzOS00MzcxLWEwMTEtY
WRlZGYzNzI1OTZmL004JTIwMDIlMjBRMSUyMEZELnBkZiJdXQ.pdf?sha=0f3d2f2647a3ed96

Chapter 1 Factoring
Lesson 4 Factoring General Trinomials pg. 5