7.

5 Solving Rational Equations

7.5 OBJECTIVES
1. Rewrite a rational equation by clearing the
fractions
2. Solve an equation that contains a rational
expression
3. Find the zeros of a rational function

Applications of your work in algebra will often result in equations involving rational ex-
pressions. Our objective in this section is to develop methods to find the solutions of such
equations.
The usual technique is to multiply both sides of the equation by the lowest common de-
nominator (LCD) of all the rational expressions appearing in the equation. The resulting
equation will be cleared of fractions, and we can then proceed to solve the equation as be-
fore. Example 1 illustrates the process.

Example 1
Clearing Equations of Fractions

Solve.

2x x
  13
3 5

NOTE The LCM for 3 and 5 The LCM for 3 and 5 is 15. Multiplying both sides of the equation by 15, we have
is 15.

 3  5  15  13
2x x 2x x
The LCD for and is 15. 15 Distribute 15 on the left.
3 5

2x x
15   15   15  13
3 5
10x  3x  195 Simplify. The equation is now
cleared of fractions.
13x  195
x  15

To check, substitute 15 in the original equation.

2  15 15
  13
3 5
10  3  13
13  13 A true statement.
© 2001 McGraw-Hill Companies

So 15 is the solution for the equation.

CAUTION Be Careful! A common mistake is to confuse an equation such as
2x x
  13
3 5
and an expression such as
2x x

3 5

535
536 CHAPTER 7 RATIONAL EXPRESSIONS AND FUNCTIONS

Let’s compare.
2x x
Equation:   13
3 5
Here we want to solve the equation for x, as in Example 1. We multiply both sides by the
LCD to clear fractions and proceed as before.
2x x
Expression: 
3 5
Here we want to find a third fraction that is equivalent to the given expression. We write
each fraction as an equivalent fraction with the LCD as a common denominator.

2x x 2x  5 x3
  
3 5 35 53
10x 3x 10x  3x
  
15 15 15
13x

15

CHECK YOURSELF 1
Solve.

3x x
 7
2 3

The process is similar when variables are in the denominators. Consider Example 2.

Example 2
Solving an Equation Involving Rational Expressions

Solve.
NOTE We assume that x cannot 7 3 1
have the value 0. Do you see  2 2
4x x 2x
why?
The LCM of 4x, x2, and 2x2 is 4x2. So, the LCD for the equation is 4x2. Multiplying both
sides by 4x2, we have

4x  x   4x  2x
7 3 1
4x2 2
2
2 Distribute 4x2 on the left side.
© 2001 McGraw-Hill Companies

7 3 1
4x2   4x2  2  4x2  2 Simplify.
4x x 2x
7x  12  2
7x  14
x2

We leave the check of the solution, x  2, to you. Be sure to return to the original equation
and substitute 2 for x.
 SOLVING RATIONAL EQUATIONS SECTION 7.5 537

CHECK YOURSELF 2
Solve.

5 4 7
 2 2
2x x 2x

Example 3 illustrates the same solution process when there are binomials in the deno-
minators.

Example 3
Solving an Equation Involving Rational Expressions

Solve.
NOTE Here we assume that x 4 3x
cannot have the value 2 or 3. 3
x2 x3

The LCD is (x  2)(x  3). Multiplying by that LCD, we have

x  2  (x  2)(x  3)(3)  (x  2)(x  3)x  3

4 3x
NOTE Notice that multiplying (x  2)(x  3)
each term by the LCD is the
same as multiplying both sides
of the equation by the LCD. Or, simplifying each term, we have

4(x  3)  3(x  2)(x  3)  3x(x  2)

We now clear the parentheses and proceed as before.

4x  12  3x2  3x  18  3x2  6x

3x2  x  30  3x2  6x

x  30  6x

5x  30

x  6

Again, we leave the check of this solution to you.

© 2001 McGraw-Hill Companies

CHECK YOURSELF 3
Solve.

5 2x
2
x4 x3

Factoring plays an important role in solving equations containing rational expressions.

538 CHAPTER 7 RATIONAL EXPRESSIONS AND FUNCTIONS

Example 4
Solving an Equation Involving Rational Expressions

Solve.
3 7 2
  2
x3 x3 x 9

In factored form, the denominator on the right side is (x  3)(x  3), which forms the
LCD, and we multiply each term by that LCD.

x  3  (x  3)(x  3)x  3  (x  3)(x  3)(x  3)(x  3)

3 7 2
(x  3)(x  3)

Again, simplifying each term on the right and left sides, we have

3(x  3)  7(x  3)  2
3x  9  7x  21  2
4x  28
x7

Be sure to check this result by substitution in the original equation.

CHECK YOURSELF 4
4 3 5
Solve   2 .
x4 x1 x  3x  4

Whenever we multiply both sides of an equation by an expression containing a variable,

there is the possibility that a proposed solution may make that multiplier 0. As we pointed
out earlier, multiplying by 0 does not give an equivalent equation, and therefore verifying
solutions by substitution serves not only as a check of our work but also as a check for
extraneous solutions. Consider Example 5.

Example 5
Solving an Equation Involving Rational Expressions

Solve.

NOTE Notice that we must x 2

assume that x  2. 7
x2 x2

The LCD is x  2, and multiplying, we have

© 2001 McGraw-Hill Companies

x  2 (x  2)  7 (x  2)  x  2 (x  2)
NOTE Notice that each of the x 2
three terms gets multiplied by
(x  2).
Simplifying yields

x  7(x  2)  2
x  7x  14  2
6x  12
x2
 SOLVING RATIONAL EQUATIONS SECTION 7.5 539

To check this result, by substituting 2 for x, we have

CAUTION
2 2
Because division by 0 is 7
undefined, we conclude that 2 22 22
is not a solution for the original
equation. It is an extraneous 2 2
solution. The original equation
7
0 0
has no solution.

CHECK YOURSELF 5
x3 1
Solve 4 .
x4 x4

Equations involving rational expressions may also lead to quadratic equations, as illus-
trated in Example 6.

Example 6
Solving an Equation Involving Rational Expressions

Solve.
NOTE Assume x  3 and x  4. x 15 2x
  2
x4 x3 x  7x  12
After factoring the trinomial denominator on the right, the LCD of x  3, x  4, and
x2  7x  12 is (x  3)(x  4). Multiplying by that LCD, we have

x  4  (x  3)(x  4) x  3  (x  3)(x  4) (x  3)(x  4)

x 15 2x
(x  3)(x  4)

Simplifying yields

x(x  3)  15(x  4)  2x Remove the parentheses.

x2  3x  15x  60  2x Write in standard form and factor.

x2  16x  60  0
(x  6)(x  10)  0

So

x6 or x  10

Verify that 6 and 10 are both solutions for the original equation.
© 2001 McGraw-Hill Companies

CHECK YOURSELF 6
3x 2 36
Solve   2 .
x2 x3 x  5x  6

The following algorithm summarizes our work in solving equations containing rational
expressions.
540 CHAPTER 7 RATIONAL EXPRESSIONS AND FUNCTIONS

Step by Step: Solving Equations Containing

Rational Expressions
Step 1 Clear the equation of fractions by multiplying both sides of the
equation by the LCD of all the fractions that appear.
Step 2 Solve the equation resulting from step 1.
Step 3 Check all solutions by substitution in the original equation.

The techniques we have just discussed can also be used to find the zeros of rational func-
tions. Remember that a zero of a function is a value of x for which f(x)  0.

Example 7
Finding the Zeros of a Function
Find the zeros of
1 3 4
CAUTION f(x)   
x 7x 21
This is different from finding
values for which the rational Set the function equal to 0, and solve the resulting equation for x.
function does not exist. In that
1 3 4
case, we found x values that f(x)    0
caused division by zero. Here, x 7x 21
we set the function equal to
zero and find the x values that The LCM for x, 7x, and 21 is 21x. Multiplying both sides by 21x, we have
make the statement true.

 x  7x  21  21x  0
1 3 4
21x Distribute 21x on the left side.

21  9  4x  0 Simplify.

12  4x  0
12  4x
3x

So 3 is the value of x for which f(x)  0, that is, 3 is a zero of f (x).

CHECK YOURSELF 7
Find the zeros of the function.

5x  2 11
f(x)  
x6 4
© 2001 McGraw-Hill Companies

CHECK YOURSELF ANSWERS

8
1. 6 2. 3 3. 9 4. 11 5. No solution 6. 5,
3
74
7. 
9
 Name

7.5 Exercises Section Date

In exercises 1 to 8, decide whether each of the following is an expression or an equation.

If it is an equation, solve it. If it is an expression, write it as a single fraction.
ANSWERS
x x x x
1.  6 2.  3
2 3 4 7 1.

2.

x x x x 3.
3.  4. 
2 5 6 8
4.

5.
3x  1 3x  1 x x3
5. x1 6.  
4 2 5 4 6.

7.

x x 1 2x  1 x 8.
7.   8. 
4 12 2 3 2
9.

10.

In exercises 9 to 50, solve each equation. 11.

x 3 x 7 x 1 x 1 12.
9.    10.   
3 2 6 3 10 5 5 2
13.

14.
4 3 10 3 5 7
11.   12.   15.
x 4 x x 3 x

16.

5 1 1 7 1 1 17.
13.   14.  
4x 2 2x 6x 3 2x
18.
© 2001 McGraw-Hill Companies

3 2 5 4
15.  16. 
x4 x3 x2 x1

9 2x 6 3x
17. 2 18. 3
x x3 x x1

541
ANSWERS

19. 3 5 13 7 2 6
19.   20.  
x2 x x2 x x3 x
20.

21.
3 2 1 2 5 3
22. 21.   22.  
2 2x  4 x2 x1 2x  2 4
23.

24.
x x1 5 x x4 1
23.   24.  
25. 3x  12 x4 3 4x  12 x3 8

26.

27. x1 x3 3 x1 x3 6

25.   2 26.   2
x3 x x  3x x2 x x  2x
28.

29.
1 2 2 1 1 12
30. 27.   2 28.   2
x2 x2 x 4 x4 x4 x  16
31.

32.
7 1 x 2 3 x
29.   2 30.   2
x5 x5 x  25 x2 x2 x 4
33.

34.
11 5 1 5 1 2
31.  2  32.   2
35. x2 x x6 x3 x4 x2 x  2x  8

36.

37. 5 3 24 3 5 2
33.   2 34.   2
x2 x3 x x6 x1 x6 x  7x  6
38.

39.
x 3 x 5
35. 2 36. 2
x3 x3 x5 x5
© 2001 McGraw-Hill Companies

2 1 2 2 4 3
37.  2  2 38.  2  2
x  3x
2
x  2x x x6 x x
2
x  5x  6 x  6x

2 3 2
39.  2  2
x2  4x  3 x 9 x  2x  3

542
 ANSWERS

40.
2 1 3 6 1
40.  2  2 41. 2  2 
x 4
2
x x2 x  3x  2 x x
41.

42.
7 6 7 12
42. 3   2  0 43. 1   0 43.
x x x2 (x  2)2
44.

45.
3 10 3 10
44. 1   45. 1  2 
x1 (x  1)2 x 9 x3 46.

47.

7 5 2x 2 3x
46. 3   47.   2 48.
x x6
2
x3 x3 x5 x  8x  15

49.

x 5x 3 2x 5 1 50.
48.  2  49.  2 
x4 x  x  12 x3 x2 x x6 x3
51.

52.

3x 2 2
50.   2 53.
x1 x2 x  3x  2
54.

55.
In exercises 51 to 58, find the zeros of each function.
56.
x 12 4x x
51. f(x)   52. f(x)  
10 5 3 6
57.

58.

12 5 1 3
53. f(x)   54. f(x)  
x5 x x2 x
© 2001 McGraw-Hill Companies

1 2 5 2 1 3
55. f(x)    56. f(x)    2
x3 x 3x x x1 x x

39 16 72
57. f(x)  1   58. f(x)  x  1
x2 x x

543
 Answers
3x
1. Equation, 36 3. Expression, 5. Equation, 5
10
3
7. Equation, 3 9. 5 11. 8 13. 15. 1
2
9 2
17.  19.  21. No solution 23. 23 25. 6
5 3
3
27. 4 29. 8 31. 4 33. 35. No solution 37. 7
2
3 1
39. 5 41. 2,  43. 5, 6 45. 4, 6 47.  ,6
2 2
1 25 3
49.  51. 24 53. 55. 57. 3, 13
2 7 4

© 2001 McGraw-Hill Companies

544