Obj.

4 Rational and Radical

Equations
Unit 1 Functions and Relations
Concepts and Objectives
Objective #4
Solve equations consisting of rational expressions
Solve work-rate problems
Solve equations with radicals and check the solutions
Solve equations that are quadratic in form
Rational Equations
A rational equation is an equation that has a rational
expression for one or more terms.
To solve a rational equation, multiply both sides by the
least common denominator of the terms of the equation.
Because a rational expression is not defined when its
denominator is 0, any value of the variable which makes
the denominators value 0 cannot be a solution.
Rational Equations
Example: Solve
The least common denominator is , which is
equal to 0 if x = 1. Write this as .

+ =
+
2 3 5
2 1
x x
x
x
( )
+ 2 1 x
1 x
( ) ( ) ( )( )
+ +

| | | |
+ =
| |
+
\
+
\
2 1 2 1
2 3
2
5
1
2 1
x x
x
x x x x
( )( ) ( ) ( )( )
+ + = + 1 2 3 2 5 2 1 x x x x x
+ = +
2 2
2 3 10 2 2 x x x x x
= 7 3 x
=
3
7
x
Since this is not 1, this is a
valid solution.

`
)
3
7
Rational Equations
Example: Solve
The LCD is which is equal to . If x is
either 3 or 3, the denominator will be 0, so .
The only value of x which will satisfy the equation is 3,
but that is a restricted value, so the solution is .

+ =
+
2
2 3 12
3 3 9 x x x
( )( )
+ 3 3 x x
2
9 x
3 x
( ) ( )
+ + = 2 3 3 3 12 x x
+ = 2 6 3 9 12 x x
= 15 12 x
=3 x
{ }

Power Property
Note: This does not mean that every solution of P
n
= Q
n
is a solution of P = Q.
We use the power property to transform an equation
that is difficult to solve into one that can be solved more
easily. Whenever we change an equation, however, it is
essential to check all possible solutions in the original
equation.
If P and Q are algebraic expressions, then every
solution of the equation P = Q is also a solution of
the equation P
n
= Q
n
, for any positive integer n.
Solving Radical Equations
Step 1 Isolate the radical on one side of the equation.
Step 2 Raise each side of the equation to a power that is
the same as the index of the radical to eliminate the
radical.
If the equation still contains a radical, repeat steps 1
and 2.
Step 3 Solve the resulting equation.
Step 4 Check each proposed solution in the original
equation.
Solving Radical Equations
Example: Solve
Check:
Solution: {6}
+ = 4 12 0 x x
= + 4 12 x x
= +
2
4 12 x x
=
2
4 12 0 x x
( )( )
+ = 6 2 0 x x
= 6, 2 x
( )
+ = 6 4 6 12 0
= 6 36 0
= 6 6 0
= 0 0
( )
+ = 2 4 2 12 0
= 2 4 0
= 2 2 0
4 0
Solving Radical Equations
Example: Solve
Check:
Solution: {5}
+ + = 3 1 4 1 x x
+ = + + 3 1 4 1 x x
+ = + + + + 3 1 4 2 4 1 x x x
= + 2 4 2 4 x x
= + 2 4 x x
+ = +
2
4 4 4 x x x
=
2
5 0 x x
( )
= 5 0 x x
=0, 5 x
( )
+ + = 3 0 1 0 4 1
= 1 4 1
= 1 2 1
1 1
( )
+ + = 3 5 1 5 4 1
= 16 9 1
= 4 3 1
= 1 1
Quadratic in Form
An equation is said to be quadratic in formif it can be
written as
where a 0 and u is some algebraic expression.
To solve this type of equation, substitute u for the
algebraic expression, solve the quadratic expression for
u, and then set it equal to the algebraic expression and
solve for x. Because we are transforming the equation,
you will still need to check any proposed solutions.
+ + =
2
0 au bu c
Quadratic in Form
Example: Solve
Let . This makes our equation:
So, and
( ) ( )
+ =
2 3 1 3
1 1 12 0 x x
( )
=
1 3
1 u x
+ =
2
12 0 u u
( )( )
+ = 4 3 0 u u
= 4, 3 u
( )
=
1 3
1 4 x
( )
=
1 3
1 3 x
= 1 64 x
= 63 x
= 1 27 x
=28 x
Quadratic in Form
Example: Solve (cont.)
Now, we have to check our proposed solutions:
( ) ( )
+ =
2 3 1 3
1 1 12 0 x x
( ) ( )
+ =
2 3 1 3
63 1 63 1 12 0
( ) ( )
+ =
2 3 1 3
64 64 12 0
( ) ( )
+ =
2 1
4 4 12 0
= 16 4 12 0
= 0 0
Quadratic in Form
Example: Solve (cont.)
Solution: {63, 28}
( ) ( )
+ =
2 3 1 3
1 1 12 0 x x
( ) ( )
+ =
2 3 1 3
28 1 28 1 12 0
( ) ( )
+ =
2 3 1 3
27 27 12 0
( ) ( )
+ =
2 1
3 3 12 0
+ = 9 3 12 0
= 0 0
Work Rate Problems
If a job can be done in t units of time, then the rate of
work is of the job per time unit. Therefore,
If the letters r, t, and A represent the rate at which work
is done, the time, and the amount of work accomplished,
respectively, then
1
t
portion of the job completed = rate time
A rt =
Work Rate Problems
Amounts of work are often measured in terms of the
number of jobs accomplished. For instance, if one job is
accomplished in t time units, then A = 1 and
1
r
t
=
Work Rate Problems
Example: Lisa and Keith are raking the leaves in their
backyard. Working alone, Lisa can rake the leaves in 5
hr, while Keith can rake them in 4 hr. How long would it
take them to rake the leaves working together?
Lisas rate: Keiths rate:
x is the time it takes for both of them to rake the leaves
1 yard
5 hr
1 yard
4 hr
1 1
1
5 4
x x + =
Work Rate Problems
Example, cont.
1 1
1
5 4
x x + =
Lisas
rate
Keiths
rate
( )
1 1
20 20 20 1
5 4
x x
| | | |
+ =
| |
\ \
4 5 20 x x + =
9 20 x =
20
hr
9
x =
Homework
College Algebra
Page 142: 12-30 (6s), 36-54 (6s), 78