RATIONAL EXPRESSIONS

Alt Başlık
▪ A quotient of two algebraic expressions is called a fractional expression. Here are
some examples
2𝑋 𝑌−2
𝑋−1 𝑌 2 +4

▪ A rational expression is a fractional expression in which both the numerator and

the denominator are polynomials.
Simplifying Rational Expressions

▪ To simplify rational expressions, we factor both numerator and denominator and

use the following property of fractions:
𝐴𝐶 𝐴
=
𝐵𝐶 𝐵

This allows us to cancel common factors from the numerator and denominator.

𝑥 2 −1
Ex/ simplify 2
𝑥 +𝑥−1
Multiplication and Division of Fractions
• The rule for multiplying and dividing is

 a  c  ac a c ad
   =  =
 b  d  bd b d bc

Ex/Perform the indicated multiplication and simplify:

𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 3 3𝑥 + 12
2
.
𝑥 + 8𝑥 + 16 𝑥 − 1

Ex/Perform the indicated division and simplify:

𝑥 − 4 𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 4
2
÷ 2
𝑥 − 4 𝑥 + 5𝑥 + 6
EXERCISES

5(𝑥−3)(2𝑥+1)
1. 10(𝑥−3)2
𝑥−2
2. 𝑥 2 −4
𝑥 2 +5𝑥+6
3. 𝑥 2 +8𝑥+15
𝑦 2 +𝑦
4. 𝑦 2 −1

𝑥 2 𝑦+𝑥𝑦 2
5. 2
𝑦 2 +5𝑥𝑦
 4𝑥 𝑥+2
6. 2 .
𝑥 −4 16𝑥

𝑥 2 +2𝑥−15 𝑥−5
7. 𝑥 2 −25
.
𝑥+2

𝑡−3 𝑡+3
8. .
𝑡 2 +9 𝑡 2 −9

𝑥 2 +7𝑥+12 𝑥 2 +5𝑥+6
9. .
𝑥 2 +3𝑥+2 𝑥 2 +6𝑥+9

𝑥+3 𝑥 2 +7𝑥+12
10.4𝑥 2 −9 ÷ 2
2𝑥 +7𝑥−15

𝑥3
𝑥+1
𝑥
11.𝑥 2 +2𝑥+1

𝑥Τ
𝑦
12. 𝑧
Addition and Subtraction of Fractions
• If we add two fractions having the same denominator, we
get a fraction whose denominator is the common
denominator.
𝐴 𝐵 𝐴+𝐵 𝐴 𝐵 𝐴−𝐵
+ = − =
𝐶 𝐶 𝐶 𝐶 𝐶 𝐶

• Although any common denominator will work, it is best to

use the least common denominator (LCD).The LCD is
found by factoring each denominator and taking the
product of the distinct factors, using the highest power
thatappears in any of the factors.
EXERCISES

3 𝑋
1. 𝑋−1
+
𝑋+2
1 2
2. 𝑥 2 −1
−
(𝑋+1)2
1
3. 1+
𝑥+3
1 2
4. 𝑥+5
+
𝑥−3
3 1
5. 𝑥+1
−
𝑥+2
5 3
6. 2𝑥−3
−
(2𝑥−3)2
 𝑢
7. 𝑢 + 1 + 𝑢+1

1 1
8. 𝑥2
+
𝑥 2 +𝑥

2 1
9. 𝑥+3
− 2
𝑥 +7𝑥+12

1 1
10.𝑥+3 + 𝑥 2 −9

2 3 4
11.𝑥 +
𝑥−1
−
𝑥 2 −𝑥

1 1
12.𝑥 2 +3𝑥+2 − 2
𝑥 −2𝑥−3
Compound Fractions

▪ A compound fraction is a fraction in which the numerator, the denominator, or

both, are themselves fractional expressions.

𝑥
+1
𝑦
𝑦
1−
𝑥
Avoiding Common Errors
EXERCISES

𝑥
+1
𝑦
1. 𝑦
1−𝑥
1 1
𝑎+ℎ 𝑎
−
2. ℎ
1
1+𝑥
3. 1
𝑥
+3
1
1+𝑥+2
4. 1
1−𝑥+2
1 1
+
𝑥−1 𝑥+3
5. 𝑥+1
 𝑥
𝑥−
𝑦
6. 𝑦
𝑦−𝑥

𝑥 𝑦
−
𝑦 𝑥
7. 1 1
−
𝑥2 𝑦2

1
8. 1− 1
1−𝑥

1 1
−
1+𝑥+ℎ 1+𝑥
9. ℎ

1 1
−
(𝑥+ℎ)2 𝑥2
10. ℎ

3(𝑥+2)2 (𝑥−3)2 − 𝑥+2 3 2 (𝑥−3)

11. (𝑥−3)4