Rational Functions 3 Solving Rational Equations

Name _______________________
Per _____ Date ____________

Review:
Solve: x 3 25 x = 0

There are 3 methods you can use to solve rational equations. Always be aware of excluded values of x.

Method
Method 1: ________________________________
You can only use this method if each side of the equation has ___________ fraction!

Example1 Solve:
3
1
a) 2
=
x + 4x x + 4

b)

6
x2
=
2x + 2x x + 1
2

Method 2:
Rewrite each fraction to have common denominators, then solve using only the numerators.

Method 3:
3: Multiply by the LCD*
LCD
Multiply each term on both sides of the equation by the LCD of the terms to cancel the denominators

Example2 Solve:
3 x 5x
a) + =
4 3 12

b)

3 1 12
=
x 2 x

Example 3 Solve:

5x
5
= 4
x +1
x +1

Example 4 Solve:

3x 2
6
= 2
+1
x2
x 4

Practice Solve:
16
2x + 1
a) 2
+3=
x4
x 16

c)

2 2
8
+ =
3x 3 x + 6

e)

2( x + 7 )
2 x + 20
2=
x+4
2x + 8

b)

2( x 2 )
2
=
x 10 x + 16 x + 2

d)

x
2
=
2x 6 x 4

Rational Functions 3 Solving Rational Equations

Homework #15
Solve the following.
3 1
1) + = 2
2 x

Name _______________________
Per _____ Date ____________

2)

8
8
+ =5
x+2 2

3)

6x
2x + 2
+4=
x+4
x 1

4)

10
4
5
+ =
x 2x x x 2

5)

3
5
=
4x x + 2

6)

x
x 5
=
2x + 7 x 1

7)

8( x 1)
4
=
2
x 4 x2

8)

x2
3
=
x + 2x x

9)

3x + 6 x + 1
=
x2 4 x 2

10)

2x
3x
= 2
+2
x3 x 9

Rational Functions 3 Solving Rational Equations

Homework #15
Solve the following.
3 1
1) + = 2
2 x

Name _______________________
Per _____ Date ____________

2)

8
8
+ =5
x+2 2

3)

6x
2x + 2
+4=
x+4
x 1

4)

10
4
5
+ =
x 2x x x 2

5)

3
5
=
4x x + 2

6)

x
x 5
=
2x + 7 x 1

7)

8( x 1)
4
=
2
x 4 x2

8)

x2
3
=
x + 2x x

9)

3x + 6 x + 1
=
x2 4 x 2

10)

2x
3x
= 2
+2
x3 x 9