RATIONAL

EXPRESSION
 RATIONAL
EXPRESSION

Example
is nothing more than a fraction in which the
numerator and/or the denominator are
polynomials.
Example:
Example:
Example:
Example:
Example:
 RATIONAL
EXPRESSION

is nothing more than a fraction in

which the numerator and/or the
denominator are polynomials.

RATIONAL RATIONAL RATIONAL

EQUATION INEQUALITY FUNCTION

equation involving inequality involving function in the form of

rational expressions rational expressions where p(x) and
q(x) are polynomials; q(x)
is not the zero function
 RATIONAL
EXPRESSION

is nothing more than a Example:

fraction in which the
numerator and/or the
denominator are
polynomials.

RATIONAL RATIONAL RATIONAL

EQUATION INEQUALITY FUNCTION

equation involving inequality involving function in the form of

rational expressions rational expressions where p(x) and q(x) are
polynomials; q(x) is not the zero
function

Example: Example:
Example:
Determine whether the following are rational equation, rational
inequality, rational function or none of these.

1. . 8. .
2. . 9. .
3. . 10. .
4. . 11. .
5. . 12. .
6. . 13. .
7. . 14. .
Determine whether the following are rational equation, rational
inequality, rational function or none of these.

1. . 8. .
2. . 9. . 1. RE
2. RF
3. . 10. . 3. NOT
4. RE
4. . 11. . 5.NOT
6.RI
7. NOT
5. . 12. . 8.RI
9. RF
10. NOT
6. . 13. . 11. RF
12.RE
7. . 14. . 13.RI
14.RF
Definition
• Some answers will not
work in the original
equation because they
will make the
denominator equal zero.
These are called
extraneous roots.
 Rational Equations
A rational equation is 
a n equation that has one
or more rational expressions.

Examples:

1 2 x2  3 x 1
 
x 1 x3  2x
x x 3
Another way to Solving Rational
Eqns.

To solve a rational equation:

1. Find the common denominator.

2.Clear denominators by multiplying both sides of

the equation by the LCM.

3. Solve the resulting equation.

4. Check the solutions.

Example 1:Solve
3 1 12
 
x 2 x
Example 1:Solve
3 1 12 Find LCD. LCD = 2x
 
x 2 x
3 1 12
2x       2x
 Multiply both sides by 2x.
x 2 x

6  x  24
Solve.
 x  18
x  18 Now we must check…
 Checking Ex. 1:

Substitute in x = -18.

3 1 12
 
18 2 18

Get common denominators.

12 12
3  9 12 It checks!!! X = -18

18 18 
18 18 18
Solve 5 3

x2x
Solve 5 3

x2x
5(x) 
3(x  2)
5x  3x 
6
2x  6
x 5 33, yes, because 11
5 3
Solve
4 12
=
x-7 15
Solve
4 12
=
x-7 15
4(15) = 12(x - 7)
60 = 12x - 84
144 = 12x
X = 12
therefore, x = 12 , 12 - 7 = 5
 2 3 12
 
m3 m3 m2  9
 2 3 12
  2
m3 m3 m 9
m2 – 9 factors to (m+3)(m-3), therefore our L C D is (m+3)(m-3)

2 3 12
(m  3)(m  3)  (m  3)(m  3)  (m  3)(m  3)
m3 m3  9 m2
2(m  3)  3(m  3)  12
2m  6  3m  9  12
 m 15  12
 m  3 m  3
Since m  3, there is no solutionto
this equation

Recall that you can not divide by 0. So from the original Equation
you see that m = 3 and m = -3
Example 2:Solve
5x 5
4
x 1 x 1
Example 2:Solve
5x 5
4
x 1 x 1
Example 2:Solve
5x 5 LCD = x + 1
4
x 1 x 1

5x   5 
 x 1  4 x
   
x 1 x 1
1
5x  4x  4  5 Solve.
x  1
Doesn’t check.
Check: 5 5
4
No Solution!!
0 0
Solve
3 1
=
x 2 + 4x x + 4
Solve
3 1
= What is different about this equation?
x 2 + 4x x + 4

3x + 12 = x2 + 4x Cross-Multiply
0 = x2 + x – 12 Solve
0 = (x + 4)(x – 3) x
= -4, 3 Check

X=3
 Example 3: Solve
3x  2 6 1 Factor denominator of second fraction.
x2 
x 2 4
6
3x  2
x  2  (x  2)(x  2) 1 LCD = (x+2)(x-2)

(x  2)(x  2)
3x  2     6 1(x 2)(x  2)
 x  2  (x  2)(x  2) 

3x  2 x  2  6  (x  2)(x  2)

3x2  6 x  2 x  4  6  x 2  4
2x2  4 x  6  0 Solve.
2(x2  2 x 3)  0
We still need to check.
2(x  3 ) ( x 1)  0
x 3,1 X = -3, 1
 x 6 Factor denominator
Example:  .
x3 x 2 8x 15
x2 – 8x + 15 = (x – 3)(x – 5)

 The L C M is (x – 3)(x – 5).

( x  3)(x  5) x 6 ( x  3)(x  5)

x  3 (x  3)(x  5)

x    6  ( x  3)(x  5)
( x  3)(x  5)  
  3)(x  5) 
 x  3   (x

x(x – 5) = – 6 Distribute and set

x2 – 5x + 6 = 0 equal to zero.

(x – 2)(x – 3) = 0 Factor and solve

x = 2 or x = 3

Check. x = 3 is not a solution since both sides would be undefined.

EXERCISES
 Examples Answer

1
r 1 1 2r x
 3
4 5

x  3
24  x 18 

x
10  x x x  5
4

1
4 y 11 7 105 x
3y
 
   3m  6 11
m 52 29
ANSWER:
ANSWER: