RATIONAL EXPRESSIONS

A rational expression is an algebraic

expression
  
that can be written as the ratio of
two polynomial functions denoted by , where
a and b are polynomials and b ≠ 0.

IDENTIFYING RATIONAL
EXPRESSIONS
Identify which of the following are rational
expressions.
  

1. 2. 3.

IDENTIFYING RATIONAL
EXPRESSIONS
SOLUTIONS:
1. - is not rational because the denominator is not a polynomial
2.   - the expression can be simplified as and since both numerator and


denominator are polynomials, the expression is rational

3. - the numerator , is not a polynomial, therefore the expression is not rational

IDENTIFYING RATIONAL
EXPRESSIONS
Rational expressions can be classified into two:
1. Similar rational expressions
- rational expressions having the same denominator
2. Dissimilar rational expressions
- rational expressions having different denominators

SIMILAR AND DISSIMILAR RATIONAL

EXPRESSIONS
IDENTIFYING SIMILAR AND
DISSIMILAR RATIONAL EXPRESSIONS