Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
Region IX – Zamboanga Peninsula
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR
Dao, Pagadian City

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEETS (LAS)

Subject and Grade: General Mathematics – Grade 11
Quarter No: 1 Week No.: 2

I. Learner and Material Basic Information

Name:_______________________________________________Score:___________
Section:______________________________________________Date:____________

Activity Title: Complete me!

Learning Competency: The learner solves rational equations and inequalities.
(M11GM-Ib-3)
References: MELC
Teaching Guide: General Mathematics (Core Subject) by
Debbie Marie B. Verzosa, PhD.
General Mathematics by Orlando A. Oronce

II. Concept Notes/Digest/Background Information/Illustrative Examples

If fractions are studied in arithmetic and are frequently used in everyday life,
rational expressions must equally be studied because of its usefulness in all fields to
which algebra is applied. The comparison of rational equations, inequalities, and
functions are shown below.

Rational Rational Rational Function

Equation Inequality
Definitio An equation An Inequality p (x)
n involving involving An function of the form f(x) = where
q( x)
rational rational p(x) and q(x) are polynomial functions and
expressions. expression
q(x) is not zero function.

To help you distinguish the difference among the Rational Function, Rational
Equation, and Rational Inequality, observe these examples:

5 x +2 x
1.
3
+ 4
= 15 Rational Equation

2. 2x + 3 <123 Rational Inequality

 2
a +6 a+5
3. = 2a+4 Rational Equation
a+1

x2 −25
4. f(x) = Rational Function
x

5. 6x + 4 ≥ 8 Rational Inequality

2
6. y = Rational Function
x−4

7. √3 x = x – 5 None of these (because the expression involves radicals)

A rational equation or inequality can’t be solved for all x values that satisfy the
equation or inequality. A rational function expresses a relationship between two variables
(such as x and y), and can be represented by a table of values or a graph.

To solve an equation or inequality in one variable as x means to find all values of x

for which the equation or inequality is true.

Procedure for Solving Rational Equations:

(a)Eliminate denominators by multiplying each term of the

equation by the least common denominator.

(b)Note that eliminating denominators may introduce

extraneous solutions. Check the solutions of the transformed
equations with the original equation.

x 1 x
Example 1. Solve for the value of x:
5
+ 4
=
2
Solution:
LCD: 20 Get the LCD of 5, 4 and 2.
x 1
(
20 + =20
5 4
x
2) () Multiply both sides by the LCD, 20.
4x + 5 = 10x Apply the Distributive Property and then
simplify.
5 = 6x Subtract 4x from both sides.
5
=x Divide both sides by 6.
6

5 5
2+ 3 5
Check: 6 1 = 6 ≟
+ 12 12
5 4 2

( 56 )( 15 )+ 14 = ( 56 )( 12 ) 5
=
5
12 12
✔
 2 3 1
Example 2. Solve for the value of x:
x
- 2x
=
5

Solution:
LCD: 10x Get the LCD of x, 2x and 5.
10x −(
2 3
x 2x
=10 x
1
5 ) () Multiply both sides by the LCD, 10x
20 – 15 = 2x Apply the Distributive Property and then
simplify.
5 = 2x Subtract 5x from both sides.
5
=x Divide both sides by 2.
2

2 −3
1 4 3 1
Check: 5
2
2
5 =
2 () 5
− ≟
5 5 5

( 21 )( 25 )- ( 31 )( 15 )= 1
5
1 1
= ✔
5 5
so,
5
2
is the solution.

Procedure for Solving Rational Inequalities:

(a) Rewrite the inequality as a single rational expression on one side of

the inequality symbol and 0 on the other side.
(b) Determine over what intervals the rational expression takes on
positive and negative values.
i. Locate the x values for which the rational expression is zero or
undefined (factoring the numerator and denominator is a useful
strategy).
ii. Mark the numbers found in (i) on a number line. Use a shaded circle
to indicate that the value is included in the solution set, and a hollow
circle to indicate that the value is excluded. These numbers partition
the number line into intervals.
iii. Select a test point within the interior of each interval in (ii). The sign
of the rational expression at this point is also the sign of the rational
expression at each interior point in the aforementioned interval.
iv. Summarize the intervals containing the solutions.

Interval and Set Notation

An inequality may have infinitely many solutions. The set of all solutions can be expressed
using set notation or interval notation. These notations are presented in the table below:
Solutions to inequalities will be represented using set notation.

2x
Example 1. Solve the inequality ≥ 1.
x+1

Solution:

(a) Rewrite the inequality as a single rational expression.

2x
x+1
– 1≥0
2 x−( x+ 1)
≥0
x +1
x−1
≥0
x+ 1

(b) The rational expression will be zero for x=1 and undefined for x = -1. The value
x=1 is included while x = -1 is not. Mark these on the number line. Use a shaded circle for
x=1 (a solution and an unshaded circle for x = -1 (not a solution).

-1 1

(c) Choose the convenient test points intervals determined by -1 and 1 to determine
x−1
the sign of in these intervals. Construct a table of signs as shown below.
x+ 1
 Interval x < -1 -1 < x < 1 x˃1
Test Point x = -2 x=0 x=2
x–1 - - +
x+1 - + +
x−1 + - +
x+ 1

(d) Since we are looking for the intervals where the rational expression is positive or zero, we
determine the solution to be set {𝑥 ∈ 𝑅| 𝑥 < −1 𝑜𝑟 ≥ 1}. Plot this set on the number line.

3 1
Example 1. Solve the inequality
x−2
- x
< 0.

Solution:

(a) Rewrite the inequality with zero on one side.

3 1
x−2
- x
<0

3 x −(x−2)
<0
x (x−2)
2 x +2
<0
x(x −2)
2( x +1)
<0
x(x −2)

(b) The rational expression will be zero for x=-1 and undefined for 0 and 2. Plot these points
on a number line. Use hollow circles since these values are not part of the solution.

(c) Construct a table of signs to determine the sign of the function in each interval determined
by -1, 0 and 2.

Interval x < -1 -1 < x < 1 0<x<2 x˃2

Test Point x = -2 −1 x=1 x=3
x=
2
2(x + 1) - + + +
x - - + +
 x-2 - - - +
2( x +1) - + - +
x( x −2)

(d) Summarize the intervals satisfying the inequality. The solution set of the inequality is the
set {𝑥 ∈ 𝑅| 𝑥 < −1 𝑜𝑟 0 < 𝑥 < 2}. Plot this set on the number line.

III. Activities/Exercises
A. Solve the following rational equations using the guided procedure on the table
below.

Rational Equation x −2 1 1 x−6 1

2 + = 2 + =
x −4 x+2 x−2 x −4 x−12 x+2
1
x−6
1. Find the Least Common
Denominator (LCD).
2. Multiply both sides of the
equation by its LCD.
3. Apply the Distributive
Property and then simplify.
4. Find all the possible values
of x. x=6 x = 10
5. Check each values by
substituting into the original
equation and reject any
extraneous root/s.

B. Solve the following rational inequalities and construct a table of signs to determine
the sign of the function in each interval.

x 1 x
1. Solve for the value of x:
3
+ 6
=
2

x−3 1 1
2. Solve for the value of x: 2 + x+3 = x−3
x −3

C. Reflection question: Tell which of the following situations illustrate a rational

function.

1. A river flows at 2.8 kilometer per hour and Anita takes 8 hours to row 20 kilometer up the
river and back. The relation between her speeds in rowing as a function of time.

2. The amount of electric current flows as a function of the load’s resistance.

3. The amount of charged fees as a function of the number of sent messages in a mobile
phone.