LESSON
3 SOLVING RATIONAL EQUATIONS AND INEQUALITIES
Solving rational equations and inequalities needs deeper understanding. We
need to be more skillful enough to add, subtract, and multiply fractions, and factor
different classification of polynomials. We need also to follow steps or procedures on
how are we going to simplify the given expressions.
The procedures is very much helpful in solving rational equations.
To solve rational equations follow the following steps.
1. Eliminate denominators by multiplying both sides of the equation by the Least
Common Denominator (LCD).
2. Solve the equation.
3. Check your solution.
Solve for x.
𝑥𝑥 1 𝑥𝑥 1 4 1
a. 10
+5= 5 b. 3
= 𝑥𝑥 − 6
Solutions
𝑥𝑥 1 𝑥𝑥
a. + =
10 5 5
𝑥𝑥 1 𝑥𝑥
The LCD of the denominators is 10. + =
10 5 5
𝑥𝑥 1 𝑥𝑥
10 (10 + 5) = 10 (5) Multiply both sides by the LCD, 10.
𝑥𝑥 + 2 = 2𝑥𝑥 Apply the Distributive Property and then simplify.
𝑥𝑥 − 𝑥𝑥 + 2 = 2𝑥𝑥 − 𝑥𝑥 Subtract x from both sides.
2 = 𝑥𝑥
Or x = 2
Check:
2 1 ?2
+
10 5 =5
2 2 ?2
+
10 10 = 5
10
2+2 ? 2
10 = 5
4 ?2
10 = 5
2√2
True
5=5
So, the solution is 2
1 4 1
b. = −
3 𝑥𝑥 6
The LCD of the denominators is 6x.
1 4 1
6𝑥𝑥 (3) = 6𝑥𝑥 (𝑥𝑥 − 6) Multiply both sides by the LCD, 6x
2𝑥𝑥 = 24 − 𝑥𝑥 Apply the Distributive Property and then
simplify.
2𝑥𝑥 + 𝑥𝑥 = 24 − 𝑥𝑥 + 𝑥𝑥 Add x to both sides.
3𝑥𝑥 = 24 Divide both sides by 3.
𝑥𝑥 = 8
Check:
1?4 1
−
3=8 6
1 ? 12 4
−
3 = 24 24
1? 8
3 = 24
1√1
True
3=3
So, 8 is the solution.
11
What’s New
ACTIVITY 3
Solve each equation and check the solution.
𝑥𝑥 2 1
1. − =
9 5 3
𝑥𝑥 𝑥𝑥
2. = 15 +
5 3
3 4 10
3. = −
𝑥𝑥 3𝑥𝑥 3
7 1 9
4. + =
𝑥𝑥 4 𝑥𝑥
𝑥𝑥 3𝑥𝑥
5. + =2
6 5
Answer key on page 40
Let’s try another set of examples.
EXAMPLE 2
Solve each equation, follow the steps on how to solve it.
𝑦𝑦+3 4 3(𝑦𝑦+3) 3𝑦𝑦+1 4𝑥𝑥+1 12
a. 𝑦𝑦−1
= 𝑦𝑦−1 b. 𝑦𝑦+1
+2= 𝑦𝑦+1
c. 𝑥𝑥+1
− 3 = 𝑥𝑥 2 −1
SOLUTIONS
𝑦𝑦+3 4
a. =
𝑦𝑦−1 𝑦𝑦−1
To clear the equation of fractions, multiply both sides by the LCD which is y – 1.
12
𝑦𝑦+3 4
(𝑦𝑦 − 1)
𝑦𝑦−1
= (𝑦𝑦 − 1) 𝑦𝑦−1 Multiply both sides by y – 1.
𝑦𝑦 + 3 = 4 Simplify.
𝑦𝑦 = 1 Subtract 3 from both sides.
Check:
𝑦𝑦+3 4
𝑦𝑦−1
= 𝑦𝑦−1
1+3 ? 4
1−1 = 1−1
Substitute 1 for y.
4√4
0=0
Division by 0 is undefined.
Because zeros appear in the denominators, the fractions are undefined. Thus,
1 is a false solution, and the equation has no solution. Such false solutions are often
called extraneous solutions.
An extraneous solution is an apparent solution that does not solve its equation.
By inspecting the denominators of each rational expression, we can determine
the values that would make the expressions undefined. When we solve a rational
equation and obtain a number that makes the equation undefined, then we say that
number is an extraneous solution, and discard it.
3(𝑦𝑦+3) 3𝑦𝑦+1
b. 𝑦𝑦+1
+2= 𝑦𝑦+1
3(𝑦𝑦+3)
Notice that if let 𝑦𝑦 = −1, then 𝑦𝑦+1
is undefined, so the solution cannot be −1.
To solve the rational equation , multiply both sides of the equation by the LCD, 𝑦𝑦 +
1.
3(𝑦𝑦+3) 3𝑦𝑦+1
(𝑦𝑦 + 1) [ + 2] = (𝑦𝑦 + 1) Multiply both sides by 𝑦𝑦 + 1.
𝑦𝑦+1 𝑦𝑦+1
3(𝑦𝑦 + 3) + 2(𝑦𝑦 + 1) = 3𝑦𝑦 + 1 Divide out the common factors.
3𝑦𝑦 + 9 + 2𝑦𝑦 + 2 = 3𝑦𝑦 + 1 Apply the Distributive Property.
5𝑦𝑦 + 11 = 3𝑦𝑦 + 1 Combine like terms.
2𝑦𝑦 + 11 = 1 Subtract 3y from both sides.
13
2𝑦𝑦 = −10 Subtract 11 from both sides.
𝑦𝑦 = −5 Divide both sides by 2.
Check:
3(𝑦𝑦+3) 3𝑦𝑦+1
𝑦𝑦+1
+2= 𝑦𝑦+1
3(−5+3) 3(−5+1)
−5+1
+ 2 =? −5+1
Substitute -5 for y.
−6 −14
−4
+ 2 =? −4
Simplify
3 14
2
+ 2 =? 4
3+4 ? 14
2 = 4
7√7
. True
2=2
Therefore, 𝑦𝑦 = −5.
4𝑥𝑥+1 12
c. Solve: −3=
𝑥𝑥+1 𝑥𝑥 2 −1
The LCD is (𝑥𝑥 + 1)(𝑥𝑥 − 1).
4𝑥𝑥+1 12
− 3 = (𝑥𝑥+1)(𝑥𝑥−1) Write the denominator in
𝑥𝑥+1
factored form.
4x+1 12
(x + 1)(x − 1) (
x+1
− 3) = (x + 1)(x − 1) (x+1)(x−1) Multiply both sides by the
LCD. (4x + 1)(x − 1) − 3(x + 1)(x − 1) = 12 Apply the Distributive
Property
4𝑥𝑥 2 − 3𝑥𝑥 − 1 − 3𝑥𝑥 2 + 3 = 12 Multiply.
𝑥𝑥 2 − 3𝑥𝑥 − 10 = 0 Simplify.
14
(𝑥𝑥 − 5)(𝑥𝑥 + 2) = 0 Factor.
𝑥𝑥 − 5 = 0 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑥𝑥 + 2 = 0 Equate each factor to 0.
𝑥𝑥 = 5 𝑥𝑥 = −2 Solve for each equation.
The solutions are −2 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 5.
What’s New
ACTIVITY 4
Solve each equation and check the solution.
𝑎𝑎+4 1
1. =
𝑎𝑎+3 𝑎𝑎+3
2(𝑥𝑥+4) 2𝑥𝑥+1
2. +3=
𝑥𝑥−2 𝑥𝑥−2
Answer key on page 40
We’re done solving rational equations. This time let’s try to solve
rational inequality. Focus, understand and follow the given procedures.
REMEMBER!
Before we follow the procedures below, let’s review first the rational expressions.
A rational expressions looks like:
𝒙𝒙𝟐𝟐 + 𝟑𝟑 𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏
𝒙𝒙 + 𝟐𝟐 𝒅𝒅𝒅𝒅𝒅𝒅𝒅𝒅𝒅𝒅𝒅𝒅𝒅𝒅𝒅𝒅𝒅𝒅𝒅𝒅𝒅𝒅
A rational expression because it is
a “ratio” of two polynomials.
15
