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Rational Expressions
Objectives
Rational Expressions
Step 1 If the denominators are the same, add or subtract the numerators.
Place the result over the common denominator.
= – 4 Simplify.
g3
Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions
EXAMPLE Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions
1 with the Same Denominator
Add or subtract as indicated.
a–b
= (a – b)(a + b) Factor.
1
= a+b Lowest terms
Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions
EXAMPLE Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions
1 with the Same Denominator
Add or subtract as indicated.
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
Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions
Step 2 Find the least common denominator. The LCD is the product of
all different factors from each denominator, with each factor raised
to the greatest power that occurs in the denominator.
Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions
22 · m3 · n 2
2 · 3 · m2 · n5
Choose the factors with
LCD = 22 · 3 · m3 · n5 the greatest exponents.
= 12m3n5
Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions
(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.
Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions
(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).
Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions
(e) g2 – 2g + 1, g2 + 3g – 4, 5g + 20
g2 – 2g + 1 = (g – 1)2
g2 + 3g – 4 = (g – 1)(g + 4) Factor.
5g + 20 = 5(g + 4)
(a) 7 1
+
3z 9z
= 21 1
+
9z 9z
21 + 1
= Add the numerators.
9z
= 22
9z
Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions
EXAMPLE Adding and Subtracting Rational
3 Expressions with Different Denominators
Add or subtract as indicated. The LCD is 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.
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.
= 7d + 6
Combine terms in the numerator.
d+5
Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions
EXAMPLE Using the Distributive Property When
4 Subtracting Rational Expressions
Add or subtract as indicated. The LCD of (e – 2) and (e + 2) is (e – 2)(e + 2).
2(e + 2) – 9(e – 2)
= Subtract.
(e – 2)(e + 2)
= 2e + 4 – 9e + 18 Distributive property
(e – 2)(e + 2)
= 4 + –x
Opposites
x–5 x–5
= 4 + –x
Opposites
x–5 x–5
(a – 2)(a – 4) – (a + 2)(a + 3)
= Subtract.
(a – 1)(a + 3)(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) Distributive
=
(a – 1)(a + 3)(a – 4) property