Topic: Rational Equations and Inequalities

1. Simplifying Rational Expressions

• Factor completely the numerator and the denominator separately.

• Look for factors that are common to the numerator & denominator. And
always remember that we can only cancel factors, not terms!

• Cancel all the common factor(s).

Example:

2. Multiplying Rational Expressions

When multiplying fractions, we can multiply the numerators and

denominators together and then reduce, as illustrated

Multiplying rational expressions is performed in a similar manner. For

example,

y / x ⋅ x / y^2 = y⋅ x / x ⋅ y2 = y(1) ⋅ x(1) / x(1) ⋅ y^2(3) = 1 / y

In general, given polynomials P, Q, R, and S, where Q≠0 and S≠0, we

have

P/Q ⋅ R/S = PR/QS

In this section, assume that all variable expressions in the denominator are
nonzero unless otherwise stated.

3. Adding or Subtracting Rational Expressions with Like Denominators

Adding and subtracting rational expressions is similar to adding and
subtracting fractions. Recall that if the denominators are the same, we can
add or subtract the numerators and write the result over the common
denominator.

3/13 + 7/13 = 3 + 7/13 = 10/13

When working with rational expressions, the common denominator will be

a polynomial. In general, given polynomials P, Q, and R, where Q≠0, we
have the following:

P/Q ± R/Q = P ± R/Q

In this section, assume that all variable factors in the denominator are
nonzero.

4. Adding or Subtracting Rational Expressions with Unlike Denominators

There are a few steps to follow when you add or subtract rational
expressions with unlike denominators.

1. To add or subtract rational expressions with unlike denominators, first

find the LCM of the denominator. The LCM of the denominators
of fraction or rational expressions is also called least common
denominator, or LCD.

2. Write each expression using the LCD. Make sure each term has the
LCD as its denominator.

3. Add or subtract the numerators.

4. Simplify as needed

Example 1:
Add 1/3a + 1/4b.

Since the denominators are not the same, find the LCD.
Since 3a and 4b have no common factors, the LCM is simply their
product: 3a⋅4b3.

That is, the LCD of the fractions is 12ab.

Rewrite the fractions using the LCD.

(1/3a ⋅ 4b/4b) + (14b ⋅ 3a/3a) = 4b/12ab + 3a/12ab

=3a + 4b/12ab
5. Finding the LCD

The least common denominator (LCD) refers to the smallest number that is
a common denominator for a given set of fractions. For addition and
subtraction of fractions and for comparing two or more fractions, the given
fractions need to have common denominators. In this lesson, we will learn
how to find the least common denominator in detail. And it defined as the
smallest common multiple of all the common multiples of the denominators
when 2 or more fractions are given.

In order to find the least common denominator, we can opt for either of the
ways as given below:

 List the multiples of both denominators. For example, 2/15 and 1/25.
The multiples of 15 are 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105, 120, 135, 150,
165 ... and the multiples of 25 are 25, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 175, 200,
225, 250. Thus, the least common denominator will be 150 and the
fractions will be 20/150 and 6/150 (by taking LCM)

 Multiply both the denominators. For example, 3/4 and 2/7. Here, the two
denominators, 4 and 7 don't have any common multiple as such. Thus,
we will multiply both the denominators. Thus, the least common
denominator will be 28 and the fractions will be 21/28 and 8/28.

Apart from simplifying fractions, the least common denominator can be

used to arrange fractions in ascending or descending order. For example,
we can arrange the following fractions in ascending order by finding their
LCD: (3/5, 9/20, 4/6). Thus, the least common multiple of the denominators
5, 20, and 6 is 60. Thus, the given fractions can be written as 36/60, 27/60,
40/60. Therefore, we can conclude that 27/60 < 36/60 < 40/60.

Important Notes

 A denominator can never be zero.

 The concept of the least common denominator for fractions is used to
evaluate the result as a part of the whole.