Unit 1 ­ Rational Expressions Notes.

notebook February 19, 2019

Handout # 1, 2, 5, 6

Rational Expressions Handout. Both #1's

1
 2.1 – Adding and Subtracting Polynomials

Example – Fred enjoys working with model rockets. He wants to determine the difference in altitude of two different rockets when
their fuel burns out and they begin to coast. The altitudes, in metres, are given by these equations:

a1 (t ) = −5t 2 + 100t + 1000 and a2 (t ) = −5t 2 + 75t + 1200 where t is the elapsed time, in seconds.

The difference in altitude, d (t ) is given by: d (t ) =

Fred simplified d (t ) to f (t ) = 175t + 2200

Determine if d (t ) and f (t ) = 175t + 2200 are equivalent functions.

If two expressions are not equivalent, then, for most values of t, their function values are different.
The exception is when the functions intersect.

Pick a value of t and see if it satisfies both equations.

d( ) = f ( )=

If two functions are equivalent, then their graphs should be identical.

Example – Nigel and Petra are hosting a dinner for 300 guests. Cheers banquet hall has quoted these charges:
• $500, plus $10 per person, for food,
• $200, plus $20 per person, for drinks, and
• a discount of $5 per person if the number of guests exceeds 200.
Nigel and Petra have created two different functions for the total cost, where n represents the number of guests and n > 200 .

Nigel’s cost function: C1 (n ) = (10n + 500) + (20n + 200) − 5n

Petra’s cost function: C2 (n ) = (10n + 20n − 5n ) + (500 + 200 )

Are the functions equivalent?

Example – Are the expressions xy + xz + yz and x 2 + y 2 + z 2 equivalent?

Summary

• Two polynomial functions or expressions are equivalent if

• they simplify algebraically to give the same function or expression
• they produce the same graph
• Two polynomial functions or expressions are not equivalent if
• they result in different values when they are evaluated with the same numbers substituted for the variable(s)
 2.2 – Multiplying Polynomials

Example – In a physics textbook, Kristina reads about an experiment in which a ball is thrown upward from the top of a cliff,
ultimately landing in the water below the cliff. The height of the ball above the cliff, h(t), and its velocity, v(t), at time t are
respectively given by

h(t ) = −5t 2 + 5t + 2.5 and v(t ) = −10t + 5

Kristina learns that the product of the two functions allows her to determine when
the ball moves away from, and when the ball moves toward, the top of the cliff.
How can she simplify the expression for h(t ) × v(t ) ?

Example – Determine a simplified function that represents the volume of the given box.
Example – Is (2 x + 3 y + 4 z )2 = 4 x 2 + 9 y 2 + 16 z 2 ?

Example – A rectangle is twice as long as it is wide. Predict how the area will change if the length of the rectangle is increased by
1 and the width is decreased by 1. Write an expression for the change in area and interpret the result.

Summary

• The product of two or more expressions, one of which contains at least two terms, can be found by using the distributive
property (often called expanding) and then collecting like terms.

• Since polynomials behave like numbers, the multiplication of polynomials has the same properties:
For any polynomials a, b, and c:

With the use of the distributive property, the product of two polynomials can be found by multiplying each term in one
polynomial by each term in the other.
 2.3 – Factoring

Example – Mai claims that, for any natural number n, the function f n   n  3n  2n  6 always generates values that are
3 2

not prime. Show that f n   n  3n  2n  6 can be factored for any natural number, n.
3 2

** Sometimes an expression that doesn’t appear to be factorable directly can be factored by grouping terms of the expression **
and dividing out common factors.

Since both factors produce numbers greater than 1, f n  can never be expressed as the product of 1 and itself.
So Mai’s claim is true.

Example – Factor the following:

a) x  x  30 b) 9 x  30 x  25
2 2

c) 2 x  x  3 d) 10 x  x  3
2 2

Example – Factor the following:

a) x  16 b) 18x  50
2 2
Example – Factor f  x   x  x  x  1 mn  8  2n  4m
3 2
Example – Factor

Example – Factor g  x   ( x  4)  25
2

Example – Factor h x   x  6 x  9  4 y
2 2

Summary

• Factoring a polynomial means writing it as a product. So factoring is the opposite of expanding.

• If a polynomial has more than three terms, you may be able to factor it by grouping.
This is only possible if the grouping of terms allows you to divide out the same common factor from each group.
• To factor a polynomial fully means that only 1 and -1 remain as common factors in the factored expression.
• To factor polynomials fully, you can use factoring strategies that include dividing by the greatest common factor (GCF)
 2.4 – Simplifying Rational Expressions

A rational expression is a quotient whose numerator and denominator are polynomials. The following are examples of rational
expressions:
3 y−4 x +1 5y2 a2 + b2
x+2 7 x+3 y 2 −1 a2 − b2

Since division by zero is not defined, once the rational expression has been simplified we must state any restrictions on the
variable(s).

Example 1 – Monomial Denominator

24 x 3 + 6 x 2 + 12 x
Simplify and state the restriction on the variable. 6x
Solution

Factor the numerator:

Divide by the common factor:

Example 2 – Binomial Denominator x

2x − 4x
2
Express the following in its simplest form.
State the restrictions on the variable.

Solution

Factor the denominator:

Divide by the common factor:

Example 3 – Removing a Common Factor of -1

3 − 2x
Simplify and state any restrictions on the variable. 4x − 6

Solution

Factor the denominator:

Factor -1 from the numerator:

Divide by the common factor:

Example 4 – Trinomial Numerator and Denominator

Simplify and state the restrictions on the variable. x 2 + 3 x − 10

x 2 + 8 x + 15
Solution

Factor the numerator

and the denominator:

Divide by the common factor:

Example 5 – Trinomial Numerator and Denominator

2 y 2 − y − 15
Simplify and state the restrictions on the variable.
4 y 2 − 13 y + 3

Solution

Factor the numerator

and the denominator:

Divide by the common factor:

Summary

• To simplify rational expressions,

a) Factor the numerator and the denominator
b) Divide by common factors
• To state the restriction(s) on the variable in a rational expression, determine and exclude the value(s) of
the variable that makes the denominator 0.
 2.6 – Multiplying and Dividing Rational Expressions

Rational expressions can be multiplied in the same way that fractions are multiplied. 3 5
×
4 6
Multiply the numerators:
Multiply the denominators:

Divide by the common factor:

P R P R PR
For rational expressions and ; × = , Q, S ≠ 0.
Q S Q S QS

Rational expressions can be divided in the same way fractions are divided. 2 6
÷
3 7
Multiply by the reciprocal:

Multiply the numerators:

Multiply the denominators:

Divide by the common factor:

P R P R P S PS
For rational expressions and ; ÷ = × = , Q, R, S ≠ 0.
Q S Q S Q R QR **Note the restrictions on Q, R, and S.

Example 1 – Multiplying Rational Expressions

3a 3 10b 3
×
Simplify and state the restrictions on the variables. 2b 2 9a 2

Solution

Multiply the numerators:

Multiply the denominators:

Divide by the common factor:

Example 2 – Multiplying Rational Expressions Involving Polynomials

x2 + x − 6 x − 3
Simplify and state the restrictions on the variable. ×
x 2 + 2 x − 15 x − 2
Solution

Factor:

Multiply the numerators:

Multiply the denominators:

Divide by the common factor:

Example 3 – Dividing Rational Expressions
2ab 14a 2b 2
÷
Simplify and state the restrictions on the variable. 5c 15c 2

Solution

Multiply by the reciprocal:

Multiply the numerators:

Multiply the denominators:

Divide by the common factor:

Example 4 – Dividing Rational Expressions Involving Polynomials

Simplify and state the restrictions on the variable. x 2 − x − 20 x 2 + 9 x + 20

÷ 2
x2 − 6x x − 3 x − 18

Solution

Factor:

Multiply by the reciprocal:

Multiply the numerators:

Multiply the denominators:

Divide by the common factor:

Summary
P R P R PR
• For rational expressions and ; × = , Q, S ≠ 0.
Q S Q S QS
• To multiply rational expressions,
a) Factor any binomials and trinomials
b) Multiply the numerators and multiply the denominators
c) Divide by common factors
d) Determine and exclude the values of the variable that make the denominators 0
P R P R P S PS
• For rational expressions and ; ÷ = × = , Q, R, S ≠ 0.
Q S Q S Q R QR
• To divide rational expressions,
a) Factor any binomials and trinomials
b) Multiply by the reciprocal of the divisor
c) Multiply the numerators and multiply the denominators
d) Divide by common factors
e) Determine and exclude the values of the variable that make the denominators 0
 2.7 – Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions: Part I

Rational expressions with a common denominator can be added or subtracted in the same way as fractions with a common
denominator. 5 1 2
+ −
7 7 7
Write with the common denominator:

Add or subtract the numerators:

Rational expressions with different denominators can be added or subtracted in the same way as fractions with different
denominators. 1 3
+
6 4
Rewrite with the common denominator:

Add the numerators:

Example 1 – Adding and Subtracting With Common Denominators

3 5 2
2
+ 2− 2
x x x

Write with the common denominator:

Add or subtract the numerators:

5 2
Example 2 – Factoring -1 From a Denominator +
x −3 3− x
Simplify and state the restrictions.

Solution

Factor -1 from the denominator 3 – x:

Rewrite with the common denominator:

(Bring negative out front)

Add or subtract the numerators:

Simplify:
Example 3 – Adding and Subtracting With Monomial Denominators

3 1 5
2
+ − 3
Solution 8x 4x 6x

Rewrite with the common denominator:

Expand the numerator:

Add or subtract the numerators:

Simplify:

Example 4 – Adding and Subtracting With Binomial Denominators

Simplify. 3n 4
−
Solution
2n + 1 n − 3

Rewrite with the common denominator:

Expand the numerator:

Add or subtract the numerators:

Simplify:

Summary
• To add or subtract rational expressions with a common denominator, write the numerators over the
common denominator, and add or subtract the numerators.
• To add or subtract rational expressions with different denominators, rewrite the expressions with a
common denominator. Then, write the numerators over the common denominator, and add or subtract
the numerators.
 2.7 – Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions: Part II

Example 1 – Adding and Subtracting With Monomial Denominators

Simplify and state the restriction on the variable. 4 3 1

− 2+ 3
5a 2a a
Solution

Write with the common denominator:

Add or subtract the numerators:

Example 2 – Denominators With a Common Binomial Factor

Simplify and state the restriction on the variable. m 3

− +1
2m − 4 3m − 6
Solution

Rewrite with the common denominator:

Add or subtract the numerators:

Expand the numerator:

Simplify:

Factor:

Divide by the common factors:

Example 3 – Denominators With Different Binomial Factors
x 5
+
Simplify and state the restrictions on the variable. 6 x + 6 4 x − 12

Solution

Rewrite with the common denominator:

Add or subtract the numerators:

Expand the numerator:

Simplify:

Example 4 – Trinomial Denominators

4 5
−
Simplify and state the restrictions on the variable. y 2 + 5 y + 6 y 2 − y − 12

Solution

Rewrite with the common denominator:

Add or subtract the numerators:

Expand the numerator:

Simplify:

Summary
• To add or subtract rational expressions with a common polynomial denominator, write the numerators
over the common denominator, and add or subtract the numerators.
• To add or subtract rational expressions with different polynomial denominators, rewrite the
expressions with a common denominator. Then, write the numerators over the common denominator,
and add or subtract the numerators.
 3.4 – Operations with Radicals

The following properties are used to simplify radicals.

• ab = a × b , a ≥ 0, b ≥ 0 radical sign

a a
• = , a ≥ 0, b ≥ 0 n
b b x
A radical is in simplest form when:

• the radicand has no perfect square factors other than 1 8=2 2 radicand

1 1
• the radicand does not contain a fraction =
4 2

1 3
• no radical appears in the denominator of a fraction =
3 3

Example 1 – Simplifying Radicals

48 9
a) 50 b) c)
6 2

9 3
Note that numbers like 50 and are called entire radicals. Numbers like 5 2 and 2 are called mixed radicals.
2 2

Example 2 – Multiplying Radicals

Simplify: a) 9 2×4 7 b) 2 3×5 6

Example 3 – Simplifying Radical Expressions

6 − 45
Simplify .
3
Example 4 – Adding and Subtracting Radicals

Simplify: a) 12 + 18 − 27 + 8 b) 4 3 + 3 20 − 12 + 6 45

Example 5 – Multiplying a Radical by a Binomial Example 6 – Binomial Multiplication

Expand and simplify (

3 2 2 6 + 10 . ) Expand and simplify (3 )(
2 +4 5 4 2 −3 5 . )

Example 7 – Rationalizing by Multiplying Denominator by the conjugate.

A math conjugate is formed by changing the sign between two terms in a binomial. For instance, the conjugate of x + y is x - y.
We can also say that x + y is a conjugate of x - y. In other words, the two binomials are conjugates of each other.

5 −3
a) . b)
3−2 4+ 5

Summary
• Radicals are simplified using the following properties.
ab = a × b , a ≥ 0, b ≥ 0
a a
= , a ≥ 0, b ≥ 0
b b
• A radical is in simplest form when:
 the radicand has no perfect square factors other than 1
 the radicand does not contain a fraction
 no radical appears in the denominator of a fraction
• To simplify radical expressions, express radicals in simplest radical form and then add or subtract like radicals.
• To multiply binomial radical expressions, use the distributive property and then add or subtract like radicals