Exercise: 1.

Rational Expressions
A rational expression is a fractional expression where both numerator and denominator are polynomial.
For example:
2𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 3 −𝑥
, ,
𝑥−1 𝑥 2 +1 𝑥 2 −5𝑥+6

The Domain of the rational expression Expression Domain

The domain of an algebraic expression is the set of the real
numbers that the variable is permitted to have. 1 {𝑥/𝑥 ≠ 0}
𝑥
√𝑥 {𝑥/𝑥 ≥ 0}

1 {𝑥/𝑥 > 0}
Exercise 1.4
√𝑥
Question#1 Find the domain of the expression.

a) 4𝑥 2 − 10𝑥 + 3
Domain= R

𝑥+1
b) 𝑥−4= 0⇒𝑥=4
𝑥−4
Domain = {𝑥/𝑥 ≠ 4} 𝑜𝑟 R−{ 4 }

2𝑥+5
c) 5𝑥 − 10 = 0 ⇒ 𝑥=2
5𝑥−10
Domain = {𝑥/𝑥 ≠ 2} 𝑜𝑟 R−{ 2 }

d) √𝑥 + 1 𝑥 + 1 ≥ 0 ⇒ 𝑥 ≥ −1
Domain 𝑥 ≥ −1 or [−1 , ∞)

1
e) 𝑥−2>0 ⇒ 𝑥 > 2
√𝑥−2
Domain 𝑥> 2 or (2 , ∞)
Question# 2 Simplify the rational expression
𝑥 2 −𝑥−2
a)
𝑥 2 −1
(𝑥−2)(𝑥+1) (𝑥−2)
= =
(𝑥−1)(𝑥+1) (𝑥−1)

𝑥 2 −𝑥−12
b)
𝑥 2 +5𝑥+6
(𝑥−4)(𝑥+3) (𝑥−4)
= =
(𝑥+3)(𝑥+2) (𝑥+2)

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 Exercise: 1.4

𝑥 2 −25 (𝑥+4)
c) ∙
𝑥 2 −16 (𝑥+5)

(𝑥+5)(𝑥−5) (𝑥+4) (𝑥−5)

= (𝑥+4)(𝑥−4) (𝑥+5) = (𝑥−4)

𝑥 2 −2𝑥−15 (𝑥+3)
d) ∙
𝑥 2 −9 (𝑥−5)
(𝑥−5)(𝑥+3) (𝑥+3) (𝑥+3)
= (𝑥+3)(𝑥−3) (𝑥−5) = (𝑥−3)

𝑥+4 𝑥−7
e) ÷
𝑥 2 +3𝑥−10 𝑥 2 −2𝑥−35

𝑥+4 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 − 35 (𝑥 + 4) (𝑥 − 7)(𝑥 + 5)
∙ = ∙
𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 10 𝑥−7 (𝑥 + 5)(𝑥 − 2) (𝑥 − 7)

(𝑥 + 4)
=
(𝑥 − 2)

Practice Questions
Q#1 Find the domain of the expression.
𝑡 +6
a)
3𝑡 −12

b) √𝑥 + 1
Q# 2 Simplify the rational expression.

𝑥 2 −4𝑥−21 (𝑥+9)
a) ∙
𝑥 2 −81 (𝑥−7)

𝑥 2 +2𝑥−35 (𝑥+3)
b) ∙
𝑥 2 −𝑥−12 (𝑥−5)

End of Exercise

Pre-calculus mathematics for calculus (7th edition)

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