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Lessonplan1 Reducingcomplexfractions

The document outlines steps for simplifying complex fractions with variables, including finding the least common denominator (LCD) of all denominators, multiplying the LCD on top and bottom to clear fractions, and using algebra skills to reduce the expressions if possible without canceling terms in the denominators. Several examples are worked through demonstrating how to list denominators, determine the LCD, multiply it out, and simplify the resulting expressions.

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60 views5 pages

Lessonplan1 Reducingcomplexfractions

The document outlines steps for simplifying complex fractions with variables, including finding the least common denominator (LCD) of all denominators, multiplying the LCD on top and bottom to clear fractions, and using algebra skills to reduce the expressions if possible without canceling terms in the denominators. Several examples are worked through demonstrating how to list denominators, determine the LCD, multiply it out, and simplify the resulting expressions.

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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Michael DeGuerre

Fall 2018
Lesson Plan 1
Lesson Objective Simplifying complex fractions with variables.
National Standards: Power Standard 6, APRA: Perform operations on polynomials and rational
expressions.
References: Textbook.
Prerequisites/Prior Knowledge: LCD, algebra with multiple variables, complex fractions,
equivalent fractions, negative exponents.
Terms/Definitions: Complex Fraction: A fraction with the denominator, numerator, or both
containing a fraction.
Least Common Denominator: the smallest number and variables that can be used for all
denominators.
Resources/Materials/Supplies: 4.5 Practice worksheet.

Opening Activity: Warm up 1: Find


1 1
+
2 3
What was the LCD [6]? How did you find it?
Are there other common denominators you could use?
How do you use it?
6 1 1 3 2 3+2 5
∗( + )= + = =
6 2 3 6 6 6 6
Consider all the denominators:
1 1
2+3
1
1−6

Let’s list them: [1, 2, 3, and 6]


Just like what we did before, we can multiply by 6/6. Because all of the denominators have an
LCD of 6, we do not need to multiply by (6/6)/(6/6).
1 1 6 1 1
6 (2 + 3) (2 + 3)
∗ , NOT 6 ∗
6 (1 − 1) 6 1
6 6 (1 − 6)
3+2 5
= =1
6−1 5
Notice how it “cleared” all the small denominators this way.

Lesson Development: (Example a): What are all the denominators? [1 and x]
𝑥+1
1
1+
𝑥
Remember, that each number has a denominator, even if it’s not written:
𝑥 1
1+1
1 1
+
1 𝑥
What is the LCD of all? How can we use it to clear all small denominators?

𝑥 (𝑥 + 1) 𝑥 2 + 𝑥
∗ =
𝑥 (1 + 1) 𝑥+1
𝑥
Can we reduce the x’s? [NO!]

𝑥 2 + 𝑥 𝑥(𝑥 + 1)
= =𝑥
𝑥+1 𝑥+1
(Example b): Rewrite the following as a fraction:
𝑥
1 − 𝑥𝑦 −1 = 1 −
𝑦
Now, let’s rewrite the following as a complex fraction:
1 𝑥
1 − 𝑥𝑦 −1 1−𝑦
=
𝑥 −1 − 𝑦 −1 1 − 1
𝑥 𝑦
Let’s list all the denominators: 1, y, and x.

What would be the LCD? [xy]


1 𝑥
𝑥𝑦 1 − 𝑦 𝑥𝑦 − 𝑥 2 𝑥(𝑦 − 𝑥)
∗ = = =𝑥
𝑥𝑦 1 − 1 𝑦−𝑥 𝑦−𝑥
𝑥 𝑦
(Example c):
1 1
2 − 2
𝑥 𝑦
1 2 1
2 + 𝑥𝑦 + 2
𝑥 𝑦
Let’s list all the denominators: [x2, y2, xy]
What would be the LCD? [x2y2]
How would we multiply the fraction out?
1 1
𝑥2𝑦 2 − 𝑦2 − 𝑥2
𝑥2 𝑦2
∗ =
𝑥2𝑦 2 1 + 2 + 1 𝑦 2 + 2𝑥𝑦 + 𝑥 2
𝑥 2 𝑥𝑦 𝑦 2
Can we simplify more? We have two quadratic equations. How do we factor them?
(𝑦 + 𝑥)(𝑦 − 𝑥) 𝑦 − 𝑥
=
(𝑦 + 𝑥)(𝑦 + 𝑥) 𝑦 + 𝑥
Can we simplify it any more after this? [No]

(Example d): Consider the following:


𝑎 𝑎−𝑏
−
𝑏 𝑎+𝑏
𝑎 𝑎+𝑏
+
𝑏 𝑎−𝑏
Can we cancel the b’s? [NO!]

Let’s list all the denominators: [b, (a+b), and (a-b)]


So what is the LCD: [b(a+b)(a-b)]
Notice that we can multiply these through and get a polynomial, but that would make it harder
for us to notice which terms we can reduce.
𝑎 𝑎−𝑏
𝑏(𝑎 + 𝑏)(𝑎 − 𝑏) 𝑏 − 𝑎 + 𝑏
∗
𝑏(𝑎 + 𝑏)(𝑎 − 𝑏) 𝑎 + 𝑎 + 𝑏
𝑏 𝑎−𝑏
𝑎 ∗ (𝑎 + 𝑏)(𝑎 − 𝑏) − (𝑎 − 𝑏) ∗ 𝑏(𝑎 − 𝑏)
=
𝑎 ∗ (𝑎 + 𝑏)(𝑎 − 𝑏) + (𝑎 + 𝑏) ∗ 𝑏(𝑎 + 𝑏)
Can we cancel any of the expressions out? What about the parts before the
addition/subtraction? [NO!]
Now would be a good time to multiply each expression through:

𝑎 ∗ (𝑎2 − 𝑏2 ) − 𝑏(𝑎2 − 2𝑎𝑏 + 𝑏2 ) 𝑎3 − 𝑎𝑏2 − 𝑎2 𝑏 + 2𝑎𝑏2 − 𝑏3


=
𝑎 ∗ (𝑎2 − 𝑏2 ) + 𝑏 ∗ (𝑎2 + 2𝑎𝑏 + 𝑏2 ) 𝑎3 − 𝑎𝑏2 + 𝑎2 𝑏 + 2𝑎𝑏2 + 𝑏3
𝑎3 − 𝑎2 𝑏 + 𝑎𝑏2 − 𝑏3
= 3
𝑎 + 𝑎2 𝑏 + 𝑎𝑏2 + 𝑏3
Can we simplify the expression anymore? [Only if we factor the polynomials, but we cannot
reduce the fraction!]
Closure: What were the steps we did to simplify the expressions?
First, we listed ALL the denominators. Then, we determined the LCD for ALL denominators.
Then we multiplied the LCD both on top and on bottom. Finally, we used our algebra skills to
reduce the fraction as much as possible.

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