Quezon National High School

Grade 8 Mathematics
Quarter 1

ILLUSTRATING
RATIONAL ALGEBRAIC
EXPRESSIONS
PAUL JOHN M. AGCAOILI, LPT
Objectives
At the end of the session, students are expected to:
define a rational algebraic expression;

determine whether or not an algebraic expression

is rational; and
determine value(s) which is/ are not permissible in a given rational algebraic
expression.
 Rational
Algebraic Expressions
• It is an expression which can be represented as a quotient of two
polynomials.

• It can be written in the form where and are polynomials and

 Polynomials
• A polynomial is a type of algebraic expression that consists of variables
and coefficients in which the exponents of all variables should be a
whole number.
• The exponents of the variables in any polynomial have to be a non-
negative integer.
• A polynomial comprises constants and variables, but we cannot perform
division operations by a variable in polynomials.
Examples of Polynomials
2
5 𝑥 +2 𝑥 − 7
3 𝑥 +2
3 2
2 𝑎 + 4 𝑎 − 𝑎 +3
7
− 5
𝑦
Non- examples of Polynomials
Non- examples Reason
−2
2𝑥 +3 𝑥 − 1 Here, the exponent of variable x is -2

2 This is not an example of a polynomial since 

division operation in a polynomial cannot be
𝑥 performed by a variable.

The exponent cannot be a fraction (here,

√ 𝑥 1/2) for a polynomial.

1
2 2 Fractional exponent is not
2 𝑥 +3 𝑥 − 1 allowed
 Rational
Algebraic Expressions
• It is an expression which can be represented as a quotient of two
polynomials.

• It can be written in the form where and are polynomials and

 Examples of Rational Algebraic Expressions

4 2𝑥
01 𝑥−2 02 2
4 𝑥 −9

3 𝑦 +5
03 𝑦 +1
04
2
𝑥 +2𝑥− 10
3𝑥+4
Which of the following is NOT a rational algebraic expression?
2
𝑥 Polynomial
Rational Algebraic Expression
𝑥−1 Polynomial

1 Polynomial
Not a rational Algebraic
𝑥−√𝑦 Not a polynomial Expression

𝑥 +3 Polynomial
3 Rational Algebraic Expression
𝑥 −8 Polynomial
Which of the following is NOT a rational algebraic expression?
7𝑦 Polynomial
Not a rational Algebraic
−3
3𝑥 Not a polynomial Expression

5 𝑥 −6 Polynomial
Rational Algebraic Expression
1 Polynomial

1
Not a polynomial
𝑥 Not a rational Algebraic
2 Expression
4𝑥 3 Not a polynomial
Determine value(s) which is/ are not permissible in the following rational
algebraic expressions.
2
2𝑎 To determine the value which will make the rational
1. ¿ expression undefined, equate the denominator to zero and
𝑎− 3 solve for the variable.

𝑎 − 3=0 Equate the denominator to 0.

𝑎 − 3+3=0+ 3 Add 3 on both sides.
𝑎=3
The expression is undefined if a is replaced by 3 because the denominator would
be 0.
Determine value(s) which is/ are not permissible in the following rational
algebraic expressions.
2 To determine the value which will make the rational
2.¿ expression undefined, equate the denominator to zero and
(𝑥+5)(𝑥−2)
solve for the variable.

𝑥 +5 =0 𝑥 − 2=0
𝑥+5+ ( − 5 )= 0+(− 5) 𝑥 − 2+2=0+ 2
𝑥=− 5 𝑥=2
The expression is undefined if x=-5 and x=2 because the denominator these values
will make the denominator be equal to 0.
Determine value(s) which is/ are not permissible in the following rational
algebraic expressions.
𝑥−6
𝑎. ¿
𝑥 ( 𝑥 +6 )

3 𝑥 +1
𝑏.¿ 2
𝑥 − 12

𝑥 +3
𝑏.¿ 2
𝑥 −5