MATH 111 YB Week 9 Notes
Week 9 Learning Objectives: The pre-apprentice will be able to:
Determine the values for which a rational expression is undefined
Simplify rational expressions
Multiply rational expressions
Divide rational expressions
Multiply and divide rational functions
Add and subtract rational expressions with a common denominator
Add and subtract rational expressions whose denominators are opposites
Find the least common denominator of rational expressions
Add and subtract rational expressions with unlike denominators
Add and subtract rational functions
Rational Expressions- Reduce/Simplify
A rational expression is a ratio of two polynomials.
To determine where a rational expression will be undefined, set the denominator equal to zero
and solve by factoring. These solutions must be excluded from the domain because they create
division by zero which is undefined.
To Simplify a rational expression:
Factor the numerator and denominator
Divide out common factors
Use the given rational expression to identify the following:
a. When the rational expression is undefined
b. Any restricted values
1 w
1. 2 2. 2
2 x +17 x+ 35 w +14 w+ 48
1
MATH 111 YB Week 9 Notes
Simplify each rational expression.
3 4 2
15 z y x −7 x+10
3. 3 3 4. 2
18 y z x −25
3 2
x +7 x +12 x
5. 2
x +3 x
Multiplying and Dividing Rational Expressions
To multiply rational expressions
factor all numerators and denominators
divide out common factors
write the answer as a product of factors – do not expand
To divide rational expressions
Rewrite as a multiplication problem: Keep Change Flip (KCF)
Follow the steps to multiply rational expressions
Perform the indicated operations. Simplify.
12 6 4 2 2
3w z 2z x −1 x +2 x −8
1. ⋅ 2. ⋅ 2
x +3 x−4 x −2 x −3
4 2 3 2
7w 3w z
2
MATH 111 YB Week 9 Notes
2 2
3 x +2 x−8 x −1
3. 2
÷ 2
3 x +11 x +10 3 x −7 x + 4
2 2 2
x +3 x−4 3 x −11 x +10 x −3 x+2
4. 2
⋅ 2 ÷ 2
9 x −25 5 x +16 x −16 25 x −40 x+16
Finding the LCM/LCD
Least Common Multiple (LCM) and Least Common Denominator (LCD)
Steps to find the LCM/LCD:
Factor each denominator.
The LCD consists of the shared factors and the unique factors.
Determine the LCM of the given polynomials: Leave your answers in factored form.
4 3
2 x +2x
1. x + x−6 2. 2
x −4
7 x+ 21 3 2
x +4 x +4 x
3
MATH 111 YB Week 9 Notes
6 7
12 x y
3. 2 8
7x y
Rational Expressions – Add & Subtract
To add or subtract rational expressions:
You handle the same process as adding or subtracting fractions.
Find the LCD.
Build up all fractions to have the LCD.
Keep the denominator. Add the numerators.
Simplify the result, if possible.
Perform the indicated operations. Simplify.
Same Denominators:
2 2
y −12 y 32 x +12 x −12 x+ 25
1. + 2. −
y −4 y−4 x−1 x−1
Opposite Denominators:
2 2
10 x +16 x−7 2 x +3 x−1
3. +
8 x−3 3−8 x
4
MATH 111 YB Week 9 Notes
Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions with Different Denominators
6 x +65 1 1
4. + 2 5. −
x+5 x −25 x+ 4 x +7
2x 13 x+14 x+1 −3 x+ 9
6. + 2 7. −
2 x +7 2 x +5 x−7 x+5 x 2 +4 x−5
−13 p−8 p+ 2
8. −
p + 2 p−24 4− p
2
5
MATH 111 YB Week 9 Notes
Assignment: CW09YB
