Mat1033 8 2

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Sec 8.2 - 1
Chapter 8
Rational Expressions and

Functions
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved

Sec 8.2 - 2
8.2
Adding and Subtracting

Rational Expressions
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved

Sec 8.2 - 3
8.2 Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions
Objectives
1. Add and subtract rational expressions with the

same denominator.
2. Find a least common denominator.
3. Add and subtract rational expressions with
different denominators.
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Sec 8.2 - 4
Rational Expressions
Adding or Subtracting Rational Expressions
Step 1 If the denominators are the same, add or subtract the numerators.
Place the result over the common denominator.
If the denominators are different, first find the least common

denominator. Write all rational expressions with this LCD, and then
add or subtract the numerators. Place the result over the commo
denominator.
Step 2 Simplify. Write all answers in lowest terms.
EXAMPLE 1 Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions
with the Same Denominator
Add or subtract as indicated.
4m 5n 4m + 5n Add the numerators.

(a) + =
7 7 7 Keep the common denominator.
1 – 5 1 – 5 Subtract the numerators; keep the

(b) =
g3 g3 g3 common denominator.
= – 4 Simplify.
g3
a – b a–b Subtract the numerators; keep

(c) =
a2 – b2 a2 – b 2 a2 – b 2 the common denominator.
a–b
= Factor.
(a – b)(a + b)
1
= a+b Lowest terms
5 + k
(d)
k2 + 2k – 15 k2 + 2k – 15
5+k Add.
=
k2 + 2k – 15
5+k
= Factor.
(k – 3)(k + 5)
1
= Lowest terms
k–3
The Least Common Denominator
Finding the Least Common Denominator
Step 1 Factor each denominator.
Step 2 Find the least common denominator. The LCD is the product of
all different factors from each denominator, with each factor raise
to the greatest power that occurs in the denominator.
EXAMPLE 2 Finding Least Common Denominators

Assume that the given expressions are denominators of fractions. Find the
LCD for each group.
(a) 4m3n2, 6m2n5

Factor each denominator.
22 · m3 · n2
2 · 3 · m2 · n 5
Choose the factors with
LCD = 22 · 3 · m3 · n5the greatest exponents.
= 12m3n5

LCD for each group.
(b) y – 5, y
Each denominator is already factored. The LCD, an expression
divisible by both y – 5 and y is
y(y – 5).
It is usually best to leave a least common denominator in factored form.

LCD for each group.
(c) n2 – 3n – 10, n2 – 8n + 15
Factor the denominators.
n2 – 3n – 10 = (n – 5)(n + 2)
Factor.
n2 – 8n + 15 = (n – 5)(n – 3)
The LCD, divisible by both polynomials, is (n – 5)(n + 2)(n – 3).

LCD for each group.
(d) 4h2 – 12h, 3h – 9
4h2 – 12h = 4h(h – 3)

Factor.
3h – 9 = 3(h – 3)
The LCD is 4h·3·(h – 3) = 12h(h – 3).

LCD for each group.
(e) g2 – 2g + 1, g2 + 3g – 4, 5g + 20
g2 – 2g + 1 = (g – 1)2
Factor.
g2 + 3g – 4 = (g – 1)(g + 4)
5g + 20 = 5(g + 4)
The LCD is 5(g – 1)2(g + 4).
EXAMPLE 3 Adding and Subtracting Rational
Expressions with Different Denominators
Add or subtract as indicated. The LCD of 3z and 9z is 9z.
(a) 7 1
+
3z 9z
7 1 = 7·3 1 Fundamental property

+ +
3z 9z 3z · 3 9z
= 21 1
+
9z 9z
= 21 + 1 Add the numerators.

9z
= 22
9z
EXAMPLE 3 Adding and Subtracting Rational
Expressions with Different Denominators
Add or subtract as indicated. The LCD is y(y – 4).
(b) 2 – 3 2(y – 4) – y·3 Fundamental property

=
y y–4 y(y – 4) y(y – 4)
2y – 8 – 3y Distributive and
=
y(y – 4) y(y – 4) commutative properties
2y – 8 – 3y Subtract the
=
y(y – 4) numerators.
–y – 8 Combine like terms in

=
y(y – 4) the numerator.
Caution with Subtracting Rational Expressions
CAUTION
One of the most common sign errors in algebra occurs when a rational
expression with two or more terms in the numerator is being subtracted.
In this situation, the subtraction sign must be distributed to every term
in the numerator of the fraction that follows it. Carefully study the
example below to see how this is done.
Subtract the numerators;

keep the common denominator.
8d – d–6 = 8d – (d – 6) = 8d – d + 6
d+5 d+5 d+5 d+5
= 7d + 6
Combine terms in the numerator.
d+5
EXAMPLE 4 Using the Distributive Property When
Subtracting Rational Expressions
Add or subtract as indicated. The LCD of (e – 2) and (e + 2) is (e – 2)(e + 2).
2 – 9 = 2(e + 2) – 9(e – 2) Fundamental

e–2 e+2 (e – 2)(e + 2) (e + 2)(e – 2) property
2(e + 2) – 9(e – 2)
= Subtract.
(e – 2)(e + 2)
2e + 4 – 9e + 18 Distributive property
=
(e – 2)(e + 2)
= –7e + 22 Combine terms in

(e – 2)(e + 2) the numerator.
EXAMPLE 5 Adding Rational Expressions with
Denominators That Are Opposites
Add. 4 + x = 4 + x(–1)
x–5 5–x x–5 (5 – x)(–1)
= 4 + –x
Opposites
x–5 x–5
To get a common denominator of x – 5, multiply the second

expression by –1 in both the numerator and the denominator.
EXAMPLE 5 Adding Rational Expressions with
Denominators That Are Opposites
Add. 4 + x = 4 + x(–1)
x–5 5–x x–5 (5 – x)(–1)
= 4 + –x
Opposites
x–5 x–5
= 4–x Add the numerators.

x–5
If we had used 5 – x as the common denominator and rewritten

the first expression, we would have obtained
x–4 ,
5–x
an equivalent answer. Verify this.
EXAMPLE 6 Adding and Subtracting Three Rational
Expressions
Add. 3 + 2 + 4 3n 2 4(n + 3)
= + +
n+3 n2 + 3n n
n(n + 3) n(n + 3) n(n + 3)
Fundamental property
The denominator of the second rational expression factors as
n(n + 3), which is the LCD for the three rational expressions.
3n + 2 + 4(n + 3) Add the numerators.

=
n(n + 3)
3n + 2 + 4n + 12 Distributive property
=
n(n + 3)
7n + 14 Combine terms.
=
n(n + 3)
7(n + 2)
= Factor the numerator.
n(n + 3)
EXAMPLE 7 Subtracting Rational Expressions
Add. a–2 – a+2 a–2 – a+2

=
a2 + 2a – 3 a2 – 5a + 4 (a – 1)(a + 3) (a – 1)(a – 4)
The LCD is (a – 1)(a + 3)(a – 4).
(a – 2)(a – 4) (a + 2)(a + 3) Fundamental

= –
(a – 1)(a + 3)(a – 4) (a – 1)(a – 4)(a + 3) property
(a – 2)(a – 4) – (a + 2)(a + 3)
= Subtract.
(a – 1)(a + 3)(a – 4)
a2 – 6a + 8 – (a2 + 5a + 6) Multiply in the

=
(a – 1)(a + 3)(a – 4) numerator.
EXAMPLE 7 Subtracting Rational Expressions
Add. a–2 – a+2 a–2 – a+2

=
a2 + 2a – 3 a2 – 5a + 4 (a – 1)(a + 3) (a – 1)(a – 4)
(a – 2)(a – 4) – (a + 2)(a + 3)
=
(a – 1)(a + 3)(a – 4) (a – 1)(a – 4)(a + 3)
(a – 2)(a – 4) – (a + 2)(a + 3)
= Subtract.
(a – 1)(a + 3)(a – 4)
a2 – 6a + 8 – (a2 + 5a + 6) Multiply in the

=
(a – 1)(a + 3)(a – 4) numerator.
a2 – 6a + 8 – a2 – 5a – 6) Distributive
=
(a – 1)(a + 3)(a – 4) property
–11a + 2 Combine terms in
=
(a – 1)(a + 3)(a – 4) the numerator.
EXAMPLE 8 Adding Rational Expressions
Add. 2 + 8 2 + 8
=
b2 + 4b + 4 b2 + 3a + 2 (b + 2)2 (b + 1)(b + 2)
The LCD is (b + 2)2(b + 1)

2(b + 1) 8(b + 2) Fundamental
= +
(b + 2)2(b + 1) (b + 2)2(b + 1) property
2(b + 1) + 8(b + 2)
= Add.
(b + 2)2(b + 1)
2b + 2 + 8b + 16 Distributive
=
(b + 2)2(b + 1) property
10b + 18 Combine like terms
=
(b + 2)2(b + 1) in the numerator.

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Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.

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Rational Expressions and

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved

Adding and Subtracting

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved

1. Add and subtract rational expressions with the

Adding or Subtracting Rational Expressions

If the denominators are different, first find the least common

Step 2 Simplify. Write all answers in lowest terms.

4m 5n 4m + 5n Add the numerators.

1 – 5 1 – 5 Subtract the numerators; keep the

a – b a–b Subtract the numerators; keep

The Least Common Denominator

Finding the Least Common Denominator

Step 1 Factor each denominator.

EXAMPLE 2 Finding Least Common Denominators

(a) 4m3n2, 6m2n5

EXAMPLE 2 Finding Least Common Denominators

It is usually best to leave a least common denominator in factored form.

EXAMPLE 2 Finding Least Common Denominators

The LCD, divisible by both polynomials, is (n – 5)(n + 2)(n – 3).

EXAMPLE 2 Finding Least Common Denominators

(d) 4h2 – 12h, 3h – 9

4h2 – 12h = 4h(h – 3)

The LCD is 4h·3·(h – 3) = 12h(h – 3).

EXAMPLE 2 Finding Least Common Denominators

The LCD is 5(g – 1)2(g + 4).

7 1 = 7·3 1 Fundamental property

= 21 + 1 Add the numerators.

(b) 2 – 3 2(y – 4) – y·3 Fundamental property

–y – 8 Combine like terms in

Caution with Subtracting Rational Expressions

Subtract the numerators;

2 – 9 = 2(e + 2) – 9(e – 2) Fundamental

= –7e + 22 Combine terms in

To get a common denominator of x – 5, multiply the second

= 4–x Add the numerators.

If we had used 5 – x as the common denominator and rewritten

3n + 2 + 4(n + 3) Add the numerators.

EXAMPLE 7 Subtracting Rational Expressions

Add. a–2 – a+2 a–2 – a+2

The LCD is (a – 1)(a + 3)(a – 4).

(a – 2)(a – 4) (a + 2)(a + 3) Fundamental

a2 – 6a + 8 – (a2 + 5a + 6) Multiply in the

EXAMPLE 7 Subtracting Rational Expressions

Add. a–2 – a+2 a–2 – a+2

a2 – 6a + 8 – (a2 + 5a + 6) Multiply in the

EXAMPLE 8 Adding Rational Expressions

The LCD is (b + 2)2(b + 1)

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