Chapter R

REVIEW OF BASIC CONCEPTS

Section R.7
Rational Expressions
R.7 Rational Expressions

• Rational Expressions

• Lowest Terms of a Rational Expression

• Multiplication and Division

• Addition and Subtraction

R.7 Rational Expressions
Objectives

After completing this section and the assigned exercises you

should be able to:
❑ Reduce a rational expression to lowest terms;
❑ Add, subtract, multiply and divide rational expressions;
❑ Use least common denominator to add and subtract
rational expressions.
R.7 Rational Expressions
What is a Rational Expression ?
A rational expression is a fraction where the numerator and
denominator are polynomials.
Some examples of rational expressions are:

𝑥+1 𝑥𝑦 2𝑥 3𝑥 + 1
, 2 2
, 2
and 2 .
𝑥 𝑥 + 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 𝑥 +1 𝑥 −4

Note that for a rational expression to be defined, the denominator

must be nonzero.
Finding Numbers That Make a
Rational Expression Undefined
3𝑥+1
Example 1: Find all values of 𝑥 such that 𝑥−2
is undefined.
Solution
To find the set of all values of 𝑥 such that the rational expression
is undefined, we set its denominator equal to 0 and we solve for 𝑥.

Set the denominator equal to 0. 𝑥−2=0

Solve for 𝑥. 𝑥=2

Conclusion: This rational expression is undefined when 𝑥 = 2.

 Convention

In writing rational expressions, it is understood that

only numbers for which the denominator is nonzero
3𝑥+1
are considered. For example, when we write , it is
𝑥−2

understood that 𝑥 ≠ 2.
 Lowest Terms of Rational Expressions
A rational expression is in lowest terms if its numerator and its
denominator has no common factors other than one.

For example:
2 𝑥
and .
3 𝑥+1
are in lowest terms, whereas
16 𝑥2 + 𝑥
and 3 .
18 𝑥 +𝑥
are not in lowest terms.

To simplify a rational expression means to write it in lowest terms.

 Simplifying Rational Expressions
𝑥 4 +𝑥 3
Example 2: Simplify the rational expression 3 2 .
𝑥 +𝑥
Factor the numerator(GCF= 𝑥 3 ).
𝑥4 + 𝑥3 𝑥3 𝑥 + 1
3 2
= 3
𝑥 +𝑥 𝑥 + 𝑥2
Factor the denominator (GCF = 𝑥 2 ).
𝑥4 + 𝑥3 𝑥3 𝑥 + 1
3 2
= 2
𝑥 +𝑥 𝑥 (𝑥 + 1)
Identify common factors
and Simplify.
=𝑥
 Simplifying Rational Expressions
Containing Factors That Are Additive Inverses
2𝑥−14
Example 3: Simplify the rational expression .
7−𝑥

Factor the numerator (GCF=2). 2𝑥 − 14 2 𝑥 − 7

=
7−𝑥 7−𝑥
Factor out −1 in the denominator: 7 − 𝑥 = (−1)(𝑥 − 7).
2𝑥 − 14 2 𝑥−7
=
Simplify. 7−𝑥 (−1)(𝑥 − 7).
2𝑥 − 14 2
= = −2
7−𝑥 −1
 Try & Check

𝑝2 −1
Simplify the rational expression .
2−2𝑝
 Simplifying Rational Expressions
25−𝑥 2
Example 4: Simplify the rational expression 2 .
𝑥 −7𝑥+10
Factor the numerator (difference of two squares).
25 − 𝑥 2 (5 − 𝑥)(5 + 𝑥)
= 2
𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 + 10 𝑥 − 7𝑥 + 10
Factor the denominator (Product-Sum Method).
25 − 𝑥 2 (5 − 𝑥)(5 + 𝑥)
=
𝑥 − 7𝑥 + 10 (𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 − 5)
2

Simplify. 𝑥+5
=−
𝑥−2
 Try & Check

𝑦 3 −49𝑦
Simplify the rational expression 3 2 .
𝑦 −6𝑦 −7𝑦
 Multiplying Rational Expressions
Example 5: Perform the following multiplication and simplify:
𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 𝑥 + 5
2
⋅ 2
𝑥 − 25 𝑥 − 49
Solution Multiply the numerators and multiply the denominators.
𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 𝑥 + 5 (𝑥 2 + 7𝑥)(𝑥 + 5) 𝑎 𝑐 𝑎𝑐
⋅ 2 = 2 ⋅ = , 𝑏 ≠ 0, 𝑑 ≠ 0
𝑥 − 25 𝑥 − 49 (𝑥 −25)(𝑥 2 − 49)
2 𝑏 𝑑 𝑏𝑑
Factor the numerator and the denominator.
𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 𝑥 + 5 𝑥(𝑥 + 7)(𝑥 + 5)
2
⋅ 2 =
𝑥 − 25 𝑥 − 49 (𝑥 − 5)(𝑥 + 5)(𝑥 − 7)(𝑥 + 7)
Identify common factors and simplify.
𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 𝑥 + 5 𝑥
2
⋅ 2 =
𝑥 − 25 𝑥 − 49 𝑥−5 𝑥−7
 Try & Check
Perform the following multiplication and simplify:
𝑥 4 − 16 𝑥 − 1
⋅
𝑥 − 𝑥 4 − 𝑥2
2
 Multiplying Rational Expressions
3𝑥𝑦 𝑥 2 +6𝑥+9
Example 6: Simplify the product: 2 ⋅ .
𝑥 𝑦+3𝑥𝑦 3𝑥+9
Solution: In this example we simplify then we multiply.
Factor all numerators and all denominators.
3𝑥𝑦 𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 + 9 3𝑥𝑦 𝑥+3 2
2
⋅ = ⋅
𝑥 𝑦 + 3𝑥𝑦 3𝑥 + 9 𝑥𝑦(𝑥 + 3) 3(𝑥 + 3)
Identify common factors and simplify
3𝑥𝑦 𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 + 9
2
⋅ =1
𝑥 𝑦 + 3𝑥𝑦 3𝑥 + 9
 Try & Check
10𝑥 3 𝑦 𝑥 2 −9
Simplify: ⋅
3𝑥𝑦+9𝑦 4𝑥 2 −12𝑥
 Division of Fraction

If 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐, and 𝑑 are real numbers such that 𝑏 ≠ 0, 𝑐 ≠ 0

and 𝑑 ≠ 0, then

𝑎 𝑐 𝑎 𝑑 𝑎𝑑
÷ = ⋅ = .
𝑏 𝑑 𝑏 𝑐 𝑏𝑐
 Dividing Rational Expressions
𝑝2 −4𝑝−12 2𝑝2 +6𝑝+4
Example 7: Simplify: ÷ .
𝑝2 −6𝑝 8𝑝6

Solution: Rewrite the division as a multiplication by the reciprocal.

𝑝2 − 4𝑝 − 12 2𝑝2 + 6𝑝 + 4 𝑝2 − 4𝑝 − 12 8𝑝6
2
÷ 6
= 2
⋅ 2
𝑝 − 6𝑝 8𝑝 𝑝 − 6𝑝 2𝑝 + 6𝑝 + 4
Factor all terms 𝑝−6 𝑝+2 8𝑝6
= ⋅
𝑝 𝑝−6 2 𝑝2 + 3𝑝 + 2
𝑝−6 𝑝+2 8𝑝6
= ⋅
𝑝 𝑝−6 2 𝑝 + 2 (𝑝 + 1)
Identify common factors
and simplify 𝑝−6 𝑝+2 8𝑝6 4𝑝5
= ⋅ =
𝑝 𝑝−6 2 𝑝+2 𝑝+1 𝑝+1
 Try & Check
𝑤 2 −3𝑤+2 𝑤 2 −1
Simplify: 2 ÷ 2 .
𝑤 −4 𝑤 +10𝑤+16
 Addition and Subtraction of Fractions
If 𝑎, 𝑏 and 𝑐 are real numbers such that 𝑐 ≠ 0 then

𝑎 𝑏 𝑎+𝑏 𝑎 𝑏 𝑎−𝑏
+ = and − = .
𝑐 𝑐 𝑐 𝑐 𝑐 𝑐

If 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 and 𝑑 are real numbers such that 𝑐 ≠ 0 and 𝑑 ≠ 0 then

𝑎 𝑏 𝑎𝑑 + 𝑏𝑐 𝑎 𝑏 𝑎𝑑 − 𝑏𝑐
+ = and − = .
𝑐 𝑑 𝑐𝑑 𝑐 𝑑 𝑐𝑑
 Adding (or Subtracting) Rational
Expressions with Common Denominator
Example 8: Perform the following operations and simplify:
𝑥 2 +1 2𝑥 𝑥 2 +1 2
a) 𝑥+1 + 𝑥+1 b) 𝑥+1 − 𝑥+1
Solution a): Solution b):
𝑥2 + 1 2𝑥 𝑥 2 + 1 + 2𝑥 𝑥2 + 1 2 𝑥2 + 1 − 2
+ = − =
𝑥+1 𝑥+1 𝑥+1 𝑥+1 𝑥+1 𝑥+1
𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 1 𝑥2 − 1
= =
𝑥+1 𝑥+1
𝑥+1 2
= 𝑥−1 𝑥+1
𝑥+1 =
𝑥+1
=𝑥+1 =𝑥−1
Adding (or Subtracting) Rational Expressions Whose
Denominators are Additive Inverse of Each Other
5𝑝+1 6−7𝑝
Example 9: Simplify: 2𝑝−3
+
3−2𝑝
.
Solution Remark that 3 − 2𝑝 = − 2𝑝 − 3 .
5𝑝 + 1 6 − 7𝑝 5𝑝 + 1 6 − 7𝑝 5𝑝 + 1 6 − 7𝑝 5𝑝 + 1 − 6 + 7𝑝
+ = + + =
2𝑝 − 3 3 − 2𝑝 2𝑝 − 3 −(2𝑝 − 3) 2𝑝 − 3 3 − 2𝑝 2𝑝 − 3
5𝑝 + 1 6 − 7𝑝 12𝑝 − 5
= − =
2𝑝 − 3 2𝑝 − 3 2𝑝 − 3

5𝑝 + 1 − (6 − 7𝑝)
=
2𝑝 − 3
 Try & Check
5𝑝+1 6−7𝑝
Simplify: − .
2𝑝−3 3−2𝑝
 The Least Common Denominator (LCD)
To add (or subtract) two or more rational numbers with different
denominators, it is convenient to express each one of them as an
equivalent fraction so that all of them have the same denominator.
For example, 1 1 5 3 5+3 8
+ = + = = .
3 5 15 15 15 15

The smallest common denominator of a list of a rational numbers

is called the least common denominator (LCD) of this list.
For example: 1 1 1 1 1 1
LCD , = 15 LCD , , , = 60
3 5 2 3 4 5
Finding the LCD of a List of Rational Expressions
1 7
Example 10: Use prime factorization to find the LCD of and .
72 48
Solution
Write the prime factorizations of each denominator.
72 = 23 ⋅ 32 , 48 = 24 ⋅ 3
The least common denominator is the product of all the prime factors
(common or not common) with the greatest exponents.
LCD = 24 ⋅ 32 = 144
Notice that the LCD of a list of rational numbers is the least common
multiple (LCM) of their denominators
Finding the LCD of a List of Rational Expressions
1 1 1
Example 11: Find the LCD of , 2 and 2 .
3𝑥−9 𝑥 −9 𝑥 −6𝑥+9
Solution
Factor each denominator completely.
3𝑥 − 9 = 3 𝑥 − 3
𝑥2 − 9 = 𝑥 − 3 𝑥 + 3
𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 9 = 𝑥 − 3 2

The least common denominator is the product of all the factors

(common or not common) with the greatest exponents.
𝐿𝐶𝐷 = 3 𝑥 + 3 𝑥 − 3 2 .
 Using the LCD to Add or Subtract Rational
Expressions With Different Denominators
1 1
Example 12: Subtract − .
𝑥 2 −4 2
𝑥 −4𝑥+4
Solution Find the LCD
𝑥2 − 4 = 𝑥 − 2 𝑥 + 2 , 𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 4 = 𝑥 − 2 2 , 𝐿𝐶𝐷 = 𝑥 − 2 2 𝑥+2
Write each rational expression as an equivalent fraction with the LCD
as a denominator.
1 1 1 𝑥−2 𝑥−2
2
= = ⋅ = 2
𝑥 −4 𝑥−2 𝑥+2 𝑥−2 𝑥+2 𝑥−2 𝑥+2 𝑥−2
1 1 1 𝑥+2 𝑥+2
2
= 2
= 2
⋅ =
𝑥 − 4𝑥 + 4 𝑥−2 𝑥−2 𝑥+2 𝑥+2 𝑥−2 2
Subtract and Simplify.
1 1 𝑥−2 − 𝑥+2 −4
2
− 2 = 2
= 2
𝑥 − 4 𝑥 − 4𝑥 + 4 𝑥+2 𝑥−2 𝑥+2 𝑥−2
 Try & Check
3 1
Add: 𝑥 2 +6𝑥+9
+ 2
𝑥 −9
.
Worksheet