RATIONAL

EXPRESSIONS
RATIONAL EXPRESSIONS CAN BE
EXPRESSED AS

•  
𝑎
𝑏
 
WHERE A AND B ARE POLYNOMIALS 0
RATIONAL EXPRESSIONS
 
CAN BE EXPRESSED AS

•  
7 5+ √ 𝑥
𝑎𝑏 𝑥
RULES IN SIMPLIFYING RATIONAL
EXPRESSIONS
1. Factor the numerator and denominator.
2. Write a product of two rational
expressions, one factor containing the
GCF of the numerator and denominator,
and the other containing the remaining
factors.
RULES IN SIMPLIFYING RATIONAL
EXPRESSIONS
3. Rewrite the factor containing the GCF as
1.
4. Multiply the remaining factors by 1.
EXAMPLE

2
•  
𝑥 − 𝑥 −6
𝑥+2
EXAMPLE

•  
( 𝑥 −3 ) ( 𝑥+2 )
𝑥+2
EXAMPLE

•  

( 𝑥 −3 )
RULES IN MULTIPLYING RATIONAL
EXPRESSIONS
1. Multiply the numerators, and the
denominators.
2. Write the resulting numerator and
denominator in factored form.
3. Divide out any numerator factor with
matching denominator factor.
RULES IN MULTIPLYING RATIONAL
EXPRESSIONS
4. Simplify if possible.
EXAMPLE

1
•  
4𝑥 ( )
4
=?
EXAMPLE

1𝑥 𝑥
•  

∨
4𝑥 4𝑥
RULES IN ADDING OR SUBTRACTING
RATIONAL EXPRESSIONS WITH THE
SAME DENOMINATORS
1. Add or subtract the numerators.
2. Retain the common
denominator.
3. Simplify the result.
 RULES IN ADDING OR SUBTRACTING
RATIONAL EXPRESSIONS WITH NOT THE
SAME DENOMINATORS
1. Find the common denominator. (LCD)
2. Write the equivalent expression of each
rational expression.
3. Add or subtract the numerators and
keep the LCD.
 RULES IN ADDING OR SUBTRACTING
RATIONAL EXPRESSIONS WITH NOT THE
SAME DENOMINATORS
4. Simplify the results if possible.
FINDING THE LCD
1. List the different denominators that
appear in the rational expression.
2. Factor each denominator completely.
3. Find the product of each factor with the
greatest number of appearances in the
denominator factorizations, that is, with
the highest power.
RATIONAL EQUATIONS
•Rational equations contains
one or more rational
expressions combined with an
equal sign there is.
 RULES IN SOLVING RATIONAL
EQUATIONS
1. Eliminating the rational expressions
in the equation by multiplying both
sides with the LCD.
2. Solve the equation.
3. Check your solution.
 RATIONAL
INEQUALITIES
•Rational inequalities are
rational expressions combined
•  

with sign.
 SOLVING RATIONAL INEQUALITIES

1 𝑥+2
 

•  

≥7, ≥0
𝑥 𝑥 −3
 RULES IN SOLVING RATIONAL
INEQUALITIES
1. Write the inequality with a single
rational expression on the left hand
side of the inequality and zero on
the right hand side of the
inequality.
 RULES IN SOLVING RATIONAL
INEQUALITIES
2. Determine the meaningful
numbers by setting the
numerator equal to zero and
setting the denominator equal
to zero.
 RULES IN SOLVING RATIONAL
INEQUALITIES
3. Use the meaningful numbers to
separate the number lines into
intervals.
4. Test for the meaningful numbers if
they make the inequality true or
false.
 RULES IN SOLVING RATIONAL
4. If true, thenINEQUALITIES
they are part of the
solution. If false, then they are not part of
the solution.
• Get the values in each interval and substitute
these into the inequality.
• If true, then the entire interval is a solution.
• If false, then the entire interval is not part of the
solution.
 RULES IN SOLVING RATIONAL
INEQUALITIES
5. Express the answer in interval
notation.

𝑥+ 2
 
Solve:

≤0
𝑥 −3