Multiply and Divide Rational Expressions

VOCABULARY Simplified form of a rational expression

VOCABULARY
Simplified form of a rational expression

A rational expression in which its numerator and denominator have no common factors (other than 1 )

SIMPLIFYING RATIONAL EXPRESSIONS

Step 1: Factor numerator and denominator
Step 2: Divide out common factors Step 3: Simplified form

Example 1 Simplify a rational expression

(x + 7x + 10) (x - 4) Step 1: Factor numerator and denominator (x + 7x + 10) = (x+2)(x+5) (x - 4) (x+2)(x-2) Step 2: Divide out common factor (x+2)(x+5) Step 3: Simplified Form (x+2)(x-2) (x+5)
(x-2)

Checkpoint Simplify the expression

x - 2x 15 x + 4x + 3 (x 5)(x + 3) (x + 1)(x + 3) (x 5) (x + 1)
1.

MULTIPLYING RATIONAL EXPRESSIONS

Step 1: Factor numerators and denominators
Step 2: Multiply numerators and denominators Step 3: Divide out common factors Step 4: Simplified form

Example 2 Multiply rational expressions

2x + 4x x - 9x + 18 x - 4x 12 * 2x Step 1: Factor 2x(x + 2) (x 3)(x 6) (x + 2)(x 6) * 2x Step 2: Multiple 2x(x + 2)(x 3)(x 6) (x + 2)(x 6)2x

2x + 4x x - 9x + 18 x - 4x 12 * 2x
Step 3: Divide 2x(x + 2)(x 3)(x 6) (x + 2)(x 6)2x Step 4: Simplify x3

Checkpoint Multiply the expression

6x + 18x x - x 2 x + x 6 * x - 7x 8 6x(x + 3) (x-2)(x+1) (x+3)(x-2) * (x-8)(x+1) 6x(x + 3)(x-2)(x+1) (x+3)(x-2)(x-8)(x+1) 6x (x-8)

Example 3
Multiply a rational expression by a polynomial

x 4 * (x - x + 1) x + 1 x 4 * (x - x + 1) x + 1 1 (x-4)(x - x + 1) (x+1)( x - x + 1) X4 X+1

Dividing Rational Expressions

Step 1: Multiply by reciprocal
Step 2: Factor Step 3: Divide Step 4: Simplify

Example 4 Divide rational expressions

3 8x - 8x x + 7 x + 6x 7 Step 1: Multiply by reciprocal 3 x + 6x 7 x+7 * 8x - 8x Step 2: Factor 3 (x+7)(x-1) (x+7)(8x)(x-1)

3 8x - 8x x + 7 x + 6x 7
Step 3: Divide 3 (x+7)(x-1) (x+7)(8x)(x-1) Step 4: Simplify 3__ 8x

cont.

Checkpoint Divide the expression

3. x 5 2x - 11x + 5 9x - 18x 2x - 5x + 2 (x 5) (2x - 5x + 2) (9x - 18x)(2x - 11x + 5) (x 5)(2x-1)(x-2) 9x(x2)(2x-1)(x-5) 1_ 9x