Scribd
Upload
17 views6 pages

Rational Algebraic Expression

Uploaded by

Jeffy Sebastian
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
17 views6 pages

Rational Algebraic Expression

Uploaded by

Jeffy Sebastian
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 6

LECTURE 2: RATIONAL ALGEBRAIC

EXPRESSION
LESSON 1: ILLUSTRARTING
RATIONAL ALGEBRAIC
EXPRESSION
A rational algebraic
expression is an expression that

𝑷 and 𝑸 are polynomials and 𝑸


can be written in the form where
P
Q

must not be equal to 0 (Q ≠ 0).


Here’s a useful checklist in
identifying whether the expression
is a rational algebraic expression:
 The expression must be in
fraction form.
 The expression must have in its
numerator and denominator a
constant, a variable, or a
combination of both, that are
polynomial expressions.
 The expression must not have a
negative exponent, a radical
sign or a fraction exponent in
the variable/s in both
numerator and denominator.
In rational algebraic
expressions, you need to pay
attention to what values of the
variables that will make the
denominator equal to 0. These
values are called excluded values.

Steps in Determining the Excluded


Values:
(Study Tip: Just pay attention to the
denominator of the expression to
determine the excluded values.)
Step 1: Let the expression in the
denominator be equal to 0.
Step 2: Solve the equation to
determine the value/s of the
variable.
Domain of Rational Expressions:
The denominators of a rational
algebraic expressions should not
be equal to zero because any
value assigned to a variable that
results in a denominator of zero
will make the expression
meaningless and must be
excluded from the domain of the
variable.
Illustration:
13m
m+8
Exclude the values for which m +
8 = 0.
m +8=0
m +8–8=0–8
m=–8
Therefore, m cannot be equal to –
8 and the Domain = {m Є R |m ≠ –
8}
(The domain of the variable m is
the set of real numbers except –
8)
LESSON 2: EVALUATING RATIONAL
ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSION
There are some values that
will make the expression defined.
The process is called evaluating
the expression.
Illustrative Example 1:
Evaluate the expression y2−1
when y=2.
y3−3
Solution:
Step 1: Replace the variable y with
the given value.
y2−1 = (2)2−1
y−3 (2)3 −3
(by substituting y=2)
Step 2: Simplify the numerator
and the denominator.
(2)2−1 = 4 – 1 = 3
(2)3 −3 8–3 5

LESSON 3: SIMPLIFYING RATIONAL


ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS
The process of simplifying
rational algebraic expressions is
similar to simplifying fractions.
That is, we write the rational
algebraic expressions so that the
numerator and denominator have
no common factors other than 1.

Steps on Simplifying Rational


Expression
1. Factor completely the
numerator and denominator.
2. Separate and divide out
common factor/s if there is/are
any.
3. Multiply the remaining
factors.
Illustration:
Simplify the following:
a. 30 = 2 • 3 • 5 =2•3•5
72 2•2•2•3•3 2•2•
2•3•3
= 5 = 5
2• 2 • 3 12
3 2
b. 14a b = 2 • 7 • a • a • a • b •
b
2
2a b 2•a•a•b
=2•7•a•a•a•b•b
2•a•a•b
= 7ab = 7ab
1

You might also like