ADDITION AND

SUBTRACTION OF
RATIONAL EXPRESSION
PERFORM THE INDICATED OPERATION
18𝑐 2 21
1. ∙ 2
15 𝑐

𝑎2 +𝑎−12 3−𝑎
2. 2 ∙
𝑎 +3𝑎−4 1−𝑎
PERFORM THE INDICATED OPERATION
18𝑐 2 21 126
1.
15
∙ 𝑐2 = 5

𝑎2 +𝑎−12 3−𝑎 (𝑎+4)(𝑎−3) −(𝑎−3)

2.
2 ∙ = 𝑥
𝑎 +3𝑎−4 1−𝑎 (𝑎−1)(𝑎+4) −(𝑎−1)

2
𝑎−3 𝑎2 − 6𝑎+9
= 2 𝑜𝑟 𝑎2− 2𝑎+1
𝑎−1
COMPLETE THE TABLE BELOW
Fraction LCD Fraction with a common Sum
denominator
5 3
1. +
4 8
1 4
2. +
3 5
5 3
3. +
6 15
4 5
4. +
18 12
2 6
5. +
3 7
COMPLETE THE TABLE BELOW
Fraction LCD Fraction with a common Sum
denominator

1. +
5 3 8 10 3 13
4 8 +
8 8 8
2. +
1 4 15 5
+
12 17
3 5 15 15 15

3. +
5 3 30 25
+
6 31
6 15 30 30 30

4.
4
+
5 36 8
+
15 23
18 12 36 36 36

5. +
2 6 21 14 18 32
3 7 +
21 21 21
HOW TO ADD OR SUBTRACT RATIONAL
EXPRESSION WITH LIKE TERMS
1. Add (or subtract) the numerators.
2. Retain common denominator.
3. Simplify the result.
Expression Sum

1.
3𝑥
+
4 3𝑥 + 4
5𝑦 5𝑦
5𝑦
2.
9𝑚−4
+
3𝑚+8 12𝑚 + 4
8 8
8
3.
𝟗
−
4 5
𝑎+4 𝑎+4
𝑎+4
4𝑥 2 49 (2𝑥+7)(2𝑥−7)
4. − = 2x + 7
2𝑥−7 2𝑥−7 2𝑥 −7

4𝑏2 +8𝑏−6 5𝑏+4 4𝑏 2 + 3𝑏 − 2

5. −
4𝑏2 −8𝑏 4𝑏2 −8𝑏
4𝑏 2 − 8𝑏
HOW TO ADD OR SUBTRACT RATIONAL
EXPRESSION WITH DIFFERENT DENOMINATORS
1. Find the least common denominator (LCD).
2. Write the equivalent expression of each
rational expression.
3. Add or subtract the numerators and keep the
LCD.
4. Simplify the result if possible.
Expression LCD Expression with a Sum
common denominator
75 45𝑥 2 12𝑥 + 6 45 45𝑥 2 + 12𝑥 − 39
3𝑥 2 4𝑥+2 3 + −
1. + − 75 75 75 75
15 25 5
2.
1 3
+ 2+
1 2x2 2𝑥 6 𝑥 3𝑥 + 6
𝑥 𝑥 2𝑥 + +
2𝑥2 2𝑥 2 2𝑥2 2𝑥2
𝑎 5 a (a+3) 𝑎2 5𝑎+15 𝑎2+5𝑎+15
3. + 𝑎(𝑎+3)
+
𝑎(𝑎+3) 𝑎(𝑎+3)
𝑎+3 𝑎

4.
5
−
7 3a(a+5) 5 7 2
𝑎2 +5𝑎 3𝑎+15 − −
3𝑎(𝑎 + 5) 3𝑎(𝑎 + 5) 3𝑎(𝑎 + 5)
PERFORM THE INDICATED OPERATION AND SIMPLIFY.
5c 2c
1. 6
+ 6

5 4
2. 3k + 3k

6 5
3. − h h

8p p+14
4. −
7 7

3q 12
5. q−4 + q−4
PERFORM THE INDICATED OPERATION AND SIMPLIFY.
5c 2c 7c
1. 6
+ 6
= 6

5 4 9 3
2. 3k + 3k = 3k =k

6 5 1
3. h − h =h

8p p+14 7p−14 7(𝑝−2)

4. − = = =p–2
7 7 7 7

3q 12 3𝑞+12 3(q+4)
5. q−4 + q−4 = = =3
q−4 q−4
PERFORM THE INDICATED OPERATION AND SIMPLIFY.
11 9
1. +
3f 5f2

𝑘−6 4−k
2. 5
+ 6

4 5
3. +
d2 d

7 1
4. m−6 − m

r s
5. r+s + r−𝑠
 PERFORM THE INDICATED OPERATION AND SIMPLIFY.
11 9 55f 27 55𝑓+27
1. + = +15f2 =
3f 5f2 15f2 15f2

𝑘−6 4−k 6(k−6) 5(4−k) 6𝑘 −36 20−5k k−16

2. 5
+ 6 = 30
+ 30 = 30
+ 30
= 30

4 5 4 5d 5d + 4
3. + = + =
d2 d d2 d2 d2

7 1 7m m−6 6m+6
4. −m = - =
m−6 m(m−6) m(m−6) m(m−6)

r s r(r−𝑠) s(r+𝑠) 𝑟2−𝑟𝑠−𝑟𝑠−𝑠2 𝑟2−2𝑟𝑠−𝑠2

5. − = - = (r+s)(𝑟−𝑠) =
r+s r−𝑠 (r+s)(𝑟−𝑠) (r+s)(𝑟−𝑠) (r+s)(𝑟−𝑠)