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College Algebra Tutorial 9: Multiplying and Dividing Rational Expressions

College Algebra Tutorial 9: Multiplying and Dividing Rational Expressions. In this section you will have to remember how to factor, simplify rational expressions and multiply polynomials to be able to complete the multiplication or division problems.

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122 views9 pages

College Algebra Tutorial 9: Multiplying and Dividing Rational Expressions

College Algebra Tutorial 9: Multiplying and Dividing Rational Expressions. In this section you will have to remember how to factor, simplify rational expressions and multiply polynomials to be able to complete the multiplication or division problems.

Uploaded by

salman saeed
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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(Back to the College Algebra Homepage)

College Algebra
Tutorial 9:
Multiplying and Dividing Rational Expressions

Learning Objectives

After completing this tutorial, you should be able to:

1. Multiply rational expressions.

2. Divide rational expressions.

Introduction

In this tutorial I will be stepping you through how to multiply and divide rational
expressions. A lot of times in math you are having to use past concepts to be
able to work all the way through the new problems. In this section you will
have to remember how to factor, simplify rational expressions and multiply
polynomials to be able to complete the multiplication or division problems. If
you need a review on multiplying polynomials, feel free to go back to Tutorial
6: Polynomials. If you need a review on factoring, feel free to go back to
Tutorial 7: Factoring Polynomials. If you need a review on simplifying
rational fractions, feel free to go back to Tutorial 8: Simplifying Rational
Expressions. I think that you are ready to move ahead.

Tutorial
Multiplying Rational Expressions

Q and S do not equal 0.

Step 1: Factor both the numerator and the denominator.

If you need a review on factoring, feel free to go back to Tutorial 7:


Factoring Polynomials.

Step 2: Write as one fraction.

Write it as a product of the factors of the numerators over the product


of the factors of the denominators. DO NOT multiply anything out at
this point.

Step 3: Simplify the rational expression.

If you need a review on factoring, feel free to go back to Tutorial 8:


Simplifying Rational Expressions.

Step 4: Multiply any remaining factors in the numerator and/or


denominator.

If you need a review on multiplying polynomials, feel free to go back


to Tutorial 6: Polynomials.
Example 1: Multiply .

Step 1: Factor both the numerator and the denominator

AND

Step 2: Write as one fraction.

*Factorthe num. and den.

In the numerator we factored a difference of squares.

In the denominator we factored a GCF and a trinomial.

Step 3: Simplify the rational expression.

AND

Step 4: Multiply any remaining factors in the numerator and/or


denominator.

*Simplify by div. out the common factors of


(y + 3), (y - 3) and y

*Excluded values of the original den.


Note that even though all of the factors in the numerator were
divided out there is still a 1 in there. It is easy to think there there is
“nothing” left and make the numerator disappear. But when you divide
a factor by itself there is actually a 1 there. Just like 2/2 = 1 or 5/5 = 1.

Also note that the values that would be excluded from the domain
are 0, 3, -6, and -3. Those are the values that makes the original
denominator equal to 0.

Example 2: Multiply .

Step 1: Factor both the numerator and the denominator

AND

Step 2: Write as one fraction.

*Factorthe num. and den.

In the numerator we factored a difference of cubes and a GCF.

In the denominator we factored a trinomial.

Step 3: Simplify the rational expression.

AND
Step 4: Multiply any remaining factors in the numerator and/or
denominator.

*Simplify by div. out the common


factors of
(x - 3), 2, and (x + 2)

*Excluded values of the original den.

Note that the values that would be excluded from the domain are 0,
3, and -2. Those are the values that makes the original denominator
equal to 0.

Dividing Rational Expressions

where Q, S, and R do not equal 0.

Step 1: Write as multiplication of the reciprocal.

Step 2: Multiply the rational expressions as shown above.

Example 3: Divide .
Step 1: Write as multiplication of the reciprocal

AND

Step 2: Multiply the rational expressions as shown above.

*Rewrite as mult. of reciprocal

*Factor the num. and den.

*Simplifyby div. out the common factors


of
3x and (x + 6)

*Multiply the den. out

*Excluded values of the original den. of


product

In the numerator of the product we factored a GCF.

In the denominator we factored a trinomial.

Note that the values that would be excluded from the domain are -6
and 0. Those are the values that makes the original denominator of
the product equal to 0.

Example 4: Divide .
Step 1: Write as multiplication of the reciprocal

AND

Step 2: Multiply the rational expressions as shown above.

*Rewrite as mult. of reciprocal

*Factor the num. and den.

*Simplifyby div. out the common factors


of
y, (y + 4), and (y - 4)

*Multiply the num. and den. out

*Excluded values of the original den. of


quotient & product

In the numerator of the product we factored a GCF and a trinomial.

In the denominator we factored a GCF and a difference of squares.

Note that the values that would be excluded from the domain are 0,
2, - 4, 4, and -3. Those are the values that make the original
denominator of the quotient and the product equal to 0.
Practice Problems

These are practice problems to help bring you to the next level. It will allow
you to check and see if you have an understanding of these types of problems.
Math works just like anything else, if you want to get good at it, then you
need to practice it. Even the best athletes and musicians had help along the
way and lots of practice, practice, practice, to get good at their sport or
instrument. In fact there is no such thing as too much practice.

To get the most out of these, you should work the problem out on your own
and then check your answer by clicking on the link for the
answer/discussion for that problem. At the link you will find the answer as
well as any steps that went into finding that answer.

Practice Problems 1a - 1b:

Perform the indicated operation.

1a. 1b.
(answer/discussion to 1a) (answer/discussion to 1b)

Need Extra Help on These Topics?

The following is a webpage that can assist you in the topics that were
covered on this page:

http://www.wtamu.edu/academic/anns/mps/math/mathlab/int_algebra
/
int_alg_tut32_multrat.htm
This webpage helps you with multiplying and dividing rational
expressions.

Go to Get Help Outside the Classroom found in Tutorial 1: How to Succeed


in a Math Class for some more suggestions.

(Back to the College Algebra Homepage)

All contents copyright (C) 2002, WTAMU and Kim Peppard. All rights reserved.
Last revised on June 23, 2002 by Kim Peppard.

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