Adding and Subtracting Rational

Expressions
Goal 1 Determine the LCM of
polynomials
Goal 2 Add and Subtract Rational
Expressions
 What is the Least Common Multiple?
Fractions require you to find the Least Common Multiple (LCM) in order to add and
subtract them!

Least Common Multiple (LCM) - smallest number or

polynomial into which each of the numbers or
polynomials will divide evenly.

The Least Common Denominator is the LCM of the

denominators.
Find the LCM of each set of Polynomials
1) 12y2, 6x2 LCM = 12x2y2

2) 16ab3, 5a2b2, 20ac LCM = 80a2b3c

3) x2 – 2x, x2 - 4 LCM = x(x + 2)(x – 2)

4) x2 – x – 20, x2 + 6x + 8
LCM = (x + 4) (x – 5) (x + 2)
Adding Fractions - A Review
3 2 9 8 LCD is 12.
  
4 3 12 12 Find equivalent
9+8 fractions using the
= LCD.
12
17 Collect the numerators,
= keeping the LCD.
12
Remember: When adding or subtracting
fractions, you need a common
denominator!
3 1 4 2 1 4 3 1
a.   b.    
5 5 5 3 2 6 6 6

When Multiplying
1
or Dividing
1 4 4 2
Fractions, you c. 2
3    
don’t need a 2 3 6 3
common 4
Denominator
 Steps for Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions:
1. Factor, if necessary.
2. Cancel common factors, if possible.
3. Look at the denominator.
If the denominators are the same,
add or subtract the numerators and place the result over
the common denominator.
If the denominators are different,
find the LCD. Change the expressions according to the
LCD and add or subtract numerators. Place the result
over the common denominator.
4. Reduce, if possible.
5. Leave the denominators in factored form.
 Addition and Subtraction
Is the denominator the same??
2 5
• Example: Simplify  Find the LCD: 6x
3x 2x
Now, rewrite the expression using the LCD of 6x
2 2  5 3
 

3x 2  2x 3 Simplify...
4 15
 
6x 6x
4  15
 Add the fractions...
6x

= 19
6x
Example 1 Simplify:

6 8 7 6(3mn2) + 8(5n) - 7(15m)

 2  2  2 2
5m 3m n mn 15m n
LCD = 15m2n2
18mn  40n  105m
2

m≠0  2 2
n≠0 Multiply by 15m n
Multiply by
Multiply by 5n
3mn2 15m
Example 2 Examples:

3 7 4 2
a.   
2x 2x 2x x

3x 6 3x  6 3( x  2)
b.   or
x4 x4 x4 x4
Example 3 Simplify:
3x  2 4x  1 (3x + 2) (5) - (2x)(15) - (4x + 1) (3)
 2x  
3 5 15
LCD = 15 15x  10  30x  12x  3

Mult by 15
27x  7
15 Mult by
Mult by 3
5 
15
Example 4 Simplify:
2x  1 3x  1 5x  3
 
4 2 3
3(2x  1)  6(3x  1)  4(5x  3)

12
6x  3  18x  6  20x  12

12
8x  21

12
Example 5 Simplify:

4a 2b (4a)(a) - (2b) (b) a≠0

 
3b 3a 3ab b≠0
LCD = 3ab

4a  2b2 2

3ab
Adding and Subtracting with polynomials as denominators
Simplify: 3 8
 Find the LCD: (x + 2)(x – 2)
x2 x2
Rewrite the expression using the LCD of (x + 2)(x – 2)
3 x  2  8 x  2 
   Simplify...
(x  2) x  2 (x  2) x  2 
3x  6 8x  16
 
x  2x  2 x  2x  2
3x  6  (8x  16) 3x  6  8x  16
 
(x  2)(x  2) (x  2)(x  2)

– 5x – 22
(x + 2)(x – 2)
Adding and Subtracting with Binomial Denominators
2 3 2 (x + 1) + 3 (x + 3)
 
x 3 x1 (x  3)(x  1)
LCD =

2x  2  3x  9 5x  11
(x + 3)(x + 1)
(x  3)(x  1) 
Multiplyby
Multiply by (x  3)(x  1)
x ≠ -1, -3
(x(x++1)3)
Example 6 Simplify:
4 x
 3 ** Needs a common denominator 1st! Sometimes it
3x 6 x  3x
3 2
helps to factor the denominators to make it easier to
find your LCD.
4 x
 3 2
3x 3x (2 x  1)
LCD: 3x3(2x+1)

4(2 x  1) x 2
 3  3
3x (2 x  1) 3x (2 x  1)

4(2 x  1)  x 2
x 2  8x  4
  3
3x 3 (2 x  1) 3x (2 x  1)
 Example 7 Simplify:
x 1 1 x 1 1
 2  
x 6 x  9 x  9
2
( x  3)( x  3) ( x  3)( x  3)
LCD: (x+3)2(x-3)

( x  1)( x  3) ( x  3)
 
( x  3) ( x  3) ( x  3) ( x  3)
2 2
( x  1)( x  3)  ( x  3)

( x  3) 2 ( x  3)

x  3x  x  3  x  3
2
x 2  3x  6
 
( x  3) ( x  3)
2
( x  3) 2 ( x  3)
Example 8 Simplify:
2x 3x 2x (x + 2) - 3x (x - 1)
 
x1 x 2 (x  1)(x  2)
2x  4x  3x  3x
2 2
x ≠ 1, -2 
(x 1)(x  2)

x  7x 2

(x  1)(x  2)
 Example 9 Simplify:
3x 2x 3x (x - 1) - 2x (x + 2)
 2 
x  5x  6 x  2x  3 (x  3)(x  2)(x  1)
2

(x + 3)(x + 2) (x + 3)(x - 1)
3x  3x  2x  4x
2 2

LCD 
(x + 3)(x + 2)(x - 1) (x  3)(x  2)(x  1)
x ≠ -3, -2, 1 x  7x 2

(x  3)(x  2)(x  1)
 Example 10 Simplify:
4x 5x 4x (x - 2) + 5x (x - 3)
 2 
x  5x  6 x  4x  4 (x  3)(x  2)(x  2)
2

(x - 3)(x - 2) (x - 2)(x - 2)

LCD 4x 2  8x  5x 2 15x

(x - 3)(x - 2)(x - 2) (x  3)(x  2)(x  2)
x ≠ 3, 2 9x  23x
2

(x  3)(x  2)(x  2)
 Example 11 Simplify:
x3 x4 (x + 3) (x - 2) - (x - 4) (x + 1)
 2 
x  1 x  3x  2
2
(x  1)(x  1)(x  2)
(x - 1)(x + 1) (x - 2)(x - 1)

(x 2  x  6)  (x2  3x  4)
LCD 
(x - 1)(x + 1)(x - 2) (x 1)(x 1)(x  2)

x ≠ 1, -1, 2 4x  2

(x  1)(x  1)(x  2)
Pg 173 # 1 – 21 odd