Math 8

Operations on RAE
“Live in harmony with one
another. Do not be proud, but be
willing to associate with people
of low position. Do not be
conceited.”
Romans 12:16
Determine the least
common multiple
x & xy
2 & 3x
x+1 & x+2
2x+4 & 3x+6
4x -x & 4x-1
2
n -2n+1
2

&
n-1
n -3n+2
2

&
n +n-6
2
 Operations on RAE:
ADDING AND SUBTRACTING RAE
(with different denominator)
 OBJECTIVES
• add and subtract rational expressions with
different denominator;
• identify least common denominator of a
rational algebraic expression and perform
completely addition and subtraction of RAE;
and
• recognize humbleness as a greatest wealth in
life.
 Operations on RAE:
ADDING AND SUBTRACTING RAE
(with different denominator)
DIFFERENT DENOMINATORS
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 common
denominator.
 FINDING LCD
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 raised to the greatest power that occurs in the denominator.
 Adding and Subtracting Rational
Expressions with Different Denominators

Step 1 Find the LCD

Step 2 Divide LCD by the denominators and
multiply by the numerator.
Step 3 Combine like terms
EXAMPLES
7 1
+ The LCD is 3·3z = 9z.
3z 9z
7
+
1 = 7·3
+
1 Fundamental Property
3z 9z 9z 9z (Divide LCD by denominators, Multiply to numerator)

7 1 = 21 1
+ +
3z 9z 9z 9z

= 22
Combine liked terms
9z
 x x+1
+ The LCD is 2·x = 2x.
2x x
x x+1 =
+
x
+
x+1(2) Fundamental Property
2x x 2x 2x (Divide LCD by denominators, Multiply to numerator)

x x+1 = x 2x+2
+ +
2x x 2x 2x

= 3x+2 Combine liked terms

2x
3𝑥 2
+ 2 The LCD is y(2y – 1) = .
𝑦 2𝑦 −𝑦
3𝑥 2 3 𝑥 (𝟐 𝒚 − 𝟏) 2(𝟏) Fundamental Property
+ = +
𝑦 2𝑦 −𝑦
2 2
2𝑦 −𝑦
2 (Divide LCD by denominators, Multiply
2 𝑦 − 𝑦 to numerator)
3𝑥 2 𝟔 𝒙𝒚 −𝟑 𝒙 2
+ = +
𝑦 2𝑦 −𝑦
2 2
2𝑦 −𝑦
2
2𝑦 −𝑦

Combine liked terms

 𝑥+1 2𝑥
2
+ 2 The LCD is (x-2)(x+2)(x+3).
𝑥 − 4 𝑥 +𝑥− 6
𝑥 +1( 𝒙 +𝟑) 2 𝑥 ( 𝒙 +𝟐)
¿ +
( 𝑥 − 2 ) ( 𝑥 +2 ) ( 𝑥+3) ( 𝑥 − 2 ) ( 𝑥+ 2 ) ( 𝑥+3)
𝟐 𝟐
𝒙 + 𝟒 𝒙 +𝟑 𝟐 𝒙 +𝟒 𝒙
¿ +
( 𝑥 − 2 ) ( 𝑥 +2 ) ( 𝑥+3) ( 𝑥 − 2 )( 𝑥+ 2 ) ( 𝑥+3)
 𝑥+1 2𝑥
2
+ 2
𝑥 − 4 𝑥 +𝑥− 6

( 𝒙 +𝟒 𝒙 +𝟑 ) +(𝟐 𝒙 +𝟒 𝒙 )
𝟐 𝟐
¿
( 𝑥 −2 ) ( 𝑥+2 ) ( 𝑥 +3)
𝟐
𝟑 𝒙 +𝟖 𝒙 +𝟑(Non-factorable)
¿
( 𝑥 − 2 ) ( 𝑥 +2 ) ( 𝑥+3)
 𝑥+1 2𝑥
2
+ 2
𝑥 − 4 𝑥 +𝑥− 6
𝟐
𝟑 𝒙 +𝟖 𝒙 +𝟑
¿ 𝟑 𝟐
𝒙 + 𝟑 𝒙 − 𝟒 𝒙 −𝟏𝟐
 2 9
− The LCD is (e-2)(e+2)
𝑒 −2 𝑒+2

REMEMBER: 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.
 2 9
− The LCD is (e-2)(e+2)
𝑒 −2 𝑒+2
2(𝒆+𝟐) 9 (𝒆 −𝟐)
¿ −
(𝑒 − 2)(𝑒 +2) (𝑒 − 2)( 𝑒+2)
𝟐 𝒆+𝟒 𝟗 𝒆 −𝟏𝟖
¿ −
(𝑒 − 2)(𝑒 +2) (𝑒 − 2)( 𝑒+2)
 2 9
− The LCD is (e-2)(e+2)
𝑒 −2 𝑒+2
2𝑒 + 4 −9 𝑒 +18
¿ + Distribute the sign.
(𝑒 − 2)(𝑒 +2) (𝑒 − 2)(𝑒 +2)
𝟐 𝒆 +𝟒 −𝟗 𝒆+𝟏𝟖 −𝟕 𝒆 +𝟐𝟐
¿ =
(𝑒 − 2)( 𝑒+2) (𝑒 − 2)( 𝑒+2)
TRY THIS!
 Adding and Subtracting Rational
Expressions with Different Denominators

2 8
+
2
4 h − 12 h 3h−9

𝑥 4
2
+ 2
𝑥 −9 𝑥 − 6 𝑥 +9
 ASSIGNMENT
Worktext
Page 44
(Different Denominators in A and B)
“Live in harmony with one
another. Do not be proud, but be
willing to associate with people
of low position. Do not be
conceited.”
Romans 12:16