Module 1.

Addition & Subtraction of

Rational Expressions
Adding and Subtracting Rational
Expressions
Goal 1 Determine the LCD of
polynomials
Goal 2 Add and Subtract Rational
Expressions
What is the Least Common Denominator?

                                     
Fractions require you to find the Least
 

Common Multiple (LCM) in order to add

and subtract them!
Adding Fractions - A Review
3 2 9 8 LCD is 12.
  
4 3 12 12 Find equivalent
9+8 fractions using the
= LCD.
12
17 Collect the numerators,
= keeping the LCD.
12
Remember: When adding or subtracting
fractions, you need a common
denominator!
3 1 4 2 1 4 3 1
a.   b.    
5 5 5 3 2 6 6 6

When Multiplying
1
or Dividing
2 1 4 4 2
Fractions, you c.    
3 2 3 6 3
don’t need a
common 4
Denominator
Steps for Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions:
1. Factor, if necessary.
2. Cancel common factors, if possible.
3. Look at the denominator.
If the denominators are the same,
add or subtract the numerators and place the result over
the common denominator.
If the denominators are different,
find the LCD. Change the expressions according to the
LCD and add or subtract numerators. Place the result
over the common denominator.
4. Reduce, if possible.
5. Leave the denominators in factored form.
 Addition and Subtraction
Is the denominator the same??
• Example 1a: Simplify 2  5 Find the LCD: 6x
3x 2x
Now, rewrite the expression using the LCD of 6x
2 2  5 3
 

3x 2  2x 3 Simplify...
4 15
 
6x 6x
4  15
 Add the fractions...
6x

= 19
6x
Example 1 Examples:

3x 6 3x  6 3( x  2)
b.   or
x4 x4 x4 x4
Adding and Subtracting with polynomials as denominators
Simplify: 3 8
 Find the LCD: (x + 2)(x – 2)
x2 x2
Rewrite the expression using the LCD of (x + 2)(x – 2)
3 x  2  8 x  2 
  Simplify...

(x  2) x  2  (x  2) x  2 
3x  6 8x  16
 
x  2x  2 x  2x  2
3x  6  (8x  16) 3x  6  8x  16
 
(x  2)(x  2) (x  2)(x  2)

– 5x – 22

(x + 2)(x – 2)
Adding and Subtracting with Binomial Denominators
You Try!!!
2 3 2 (x + 1) + 3 (x + 3)
 
x 3 x1 (x  3)(x  1)
LCD =

2x  2  3x  9 5x  11
(x + 3)(x + 1) (x  3)(x  1) 
Multiplyby by (x  3)(x  1)
x ≠ -1, -3 Multiply
(x(x++1)3)
 Simplify:
x 1 1 x 1 1
2
 2  
x 6 x  9 x  9 ( x  3)( x  3) ( x  3)( x  3)
LCD: (x+3)2(x-3)

( x  1)( x  3) ( x  3) ( x  1)( x  3)  ( x  3)
 2
 2

( x  3) ( x  3) ( x  3) ( x  3) ( x  3) 2 ( x  3)

2
x  3x  x  3  x  3 x 2  3x  6
 2 
( x  3) ( x  3) ( x  3) 2 ( x  3)
 You Try!!!! Simplify:
2x 3x 2x (x + 2) - 3x (x - 1)
 
x1 x 2 (x  1)(x  2)
2x 2  4x  3x 2  3x
x ≠ 1, -2 
(x  1)(x  2)
2
x  7x

(x  1)(x  2)

=
 Simplify:
3x 2x 3x (x - 1) - 2x (x + 2)
2  2 
x  5x  6 x  2x  3 (x  3)(x  2)(x  1)
(x + 3)(x + 2) (x + 3)(x - 1)
3x 2  3x  2x 2  4x

(x  3)(x  2)(x  1)
2
x  7x

(x  3)(x  2)(x  1)
=
 You try!!!! Simplify:
4x 5x 4x(x - 2) + 5x (x - 3)
2  2 
x  5x  6 x  4x  4 (x  3)(x  2)(x  2)
(x - 3)(x - 2) (x - 2)(x - 2)
2 2
LCD 4x  8x  5x  15x

(x - 3)(x - 2)(x - 2) (x  3)(x  2)(x  2)
9x 2  23x
x ≠ 3, 2 
(x  3)(x  2)(x  2)

𝒙 (𝟗 𝒙 −𝟐𝟑)
¿
( 𝒙 −𝟑)( 𝒙 − 𝟐)( 𝒙 −𝟐)
 Simplify:
x3 x4 (x + 3) (x - 2) - (x - 4)(x + 1)
2  2 
x  1 x  3x  2 (x  1)(x  1)(x  2)
(x - 1)(x + 1) (x - 2)(x - 1)
(x 2  x  6)  (x2  3x  4)
LCD 
(x - 1)(x + 1)(x - 2) (x  1)(x  1)(x  2)

x ≠ 1, -1, 2 4x  2

(x  1)(x  1)(x  2)