Lesson 6 Rational Equation

Lesson 6: Solving Rational
Equations and Inequalities
Robert Jun V. Jovita

11-STEM
• To solve a rational equation:
 Eliminate denominators by multiplying each term of

the equation by the least common
denominator(LCD).
 On finding the LCD, you can multiply the
denominators or just find an expression that if you
multiply to the equation, the denominators of the
equation will be remove.
 When each side of the equation is a single rational
expression, we can use cross multiplication.
 If one or more of your solutions are not valid in the
original equation, they are called “extraneous
solutions” and should not be included in your list of
actual solutions to the equation.
Example 1:
𝑥 1
Solve: =
𝑥−6 𝑥−4
Solution:
Since each side of the equation is a single rational expression, so we
can use cross multiplication.
𝑥 1
=
𝑥−6 𝑥−4
x 𝑥−4 =𝑥−6
𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 = 𝑥 − 6
𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 − 𝑥 + 6 = 0
𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 6 = 0
𝑥−2 𝑥−3 =0
𝑥 = 2 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = 3
Checking:
x=2 x=3
𝑥 1 𝑥 1
= =
𝑥−6 𝑥−4 𝑥−6 𝑥−4
2 1 3 1
= =
2−6 2−4 3−6 3−4
1 1
− =− −1 = −1
2 2
The solutions are x=2 and x=3

• Example 2:
2 3 1
Solve: − =
𝑥 2𝑥 5
Solution:
The LCD of all the denominators is 10x. Multiply both sides of the
equation by 10x and solve the resolving equation.
2 3 1
10𝑥 − = 10x
𝑥 2𝑥 5
20 − 15 = 2𝑥
2𝑥 = 5
𝑥 = 5/2
• Checking:
x=5/2
2 3 1
− =
𝑥 2𝑥 5
2 3 1
− =
(5/2) 2(5/2) 5
4 3 1
− =
5 5 5
1 1
=
5 5
The solution is x=5/2.
Example 3:
𝑥 1 8
Solve: − =
𝑥+2 𝑥−2 𝑥 2 −4
Solution:
Factor each denominator in the rational expression.
𝑥 1 8
− =
𝑥 + 2 𝑥 − 2 (𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 2)
Multiply the LCD which is (x+2)(x-2) to both sides of the equation to
remove the denominators.
𝑥 1 8
(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 2)( − = )(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 2)
𝑥+2 𝑥−2 𝑥+2 𝑥−2
𝑥 𝑥 − 2 − (𝑥 + 2) = 8
𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 − 𝑥 − 2 = 8
𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 10 = 0
𝑥−5 𝑥+2 =0
𝑥 = 5 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = −2
Checking:
x=5 x=-2
𝑥 1 8 𝑥 1 8
− = − =
𝑥+2 𝑥−2 𝑥 2 −4 𝑥+2 𝑥−2 𝑥 2 −4
5 1 8 −2 1 8
− = − =
5+2 5−2 52 −4 −2+2 −2−2 −22 −4
8 8 −2 1 8
= − = (Undefined)
21 21 0 −4 0
By checking x=-2 will make the original equation undefined,
therefore x=5 is the only solution.
Rational Inequalities
• To solve a 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 test point is also the sign of the rational
expression at each interior point in the
aforementioned interval.
 (iv) Summarize the intervals containing the solutions.
• Warning! Multiplying both sides of an
inequality by a number requires that the sign
(positive or negative) of the number is known.
Since the sign of a variable is unknown, it is
not valid to multiply both sides of an
inequality by a variable.
• Example 1:
2𝑥
Solve the Inequality: ≥1
𝑥+1
Solution:
Rewrite the inequality as a single rational expression.
2𝑥
−1≥0
𝑥+1
2𝑥−(𝑥+1)
≥0
𝑥+1
𝑥−1
≥0
𝑥+1
𝑥−1=0 𝑥+1=0
𝑥=1 𝑥 = −1
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).
Choose convenient test points in the intervals
𝑥−1
determined by –1 and 1 to determine the sign of in
𝑥+1
these intervals. Construct a table of signs as shown
below
Since we are looking for the intervals where the
rational expression is positive or zero, we determine
the solution to be the set {𝑥 ∈ 𝑅|𝑥 < −1 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 ≥
1}.Plot this set on the number line.
Example 2:
3 1
Solve the Inequality: <
𝑥−2 𝑥
Solution:
Rewrite the inequality with zero on one side.
3 1
− <0
𝑥−2 𝑥
3𝑥 − (𝑥 − 2)
<0
𝑥(𝑥 − 2)
2𝑥 + 2
<0
𝑥(𝑥 − 2)
2𝑥 + 2 = 0 𝑥 𝑥−2 =0
2𝑥 = −2 𝑥 = 0 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = 2
𝑥 = −1
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.
Construct a table of signs to determine the sign of the
function in each interval determined by -1 ,0 ,and 2.
• 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.
• Example 3:
4 1
Solve for x: ≥
2𝑥−1 𝑥+1
Solution:
Rewrite the equation with zero on one side.
4 1
− ≥0
2𝑥 − 1 𝑥 + 1
4 𝑥 + 1 − (2𝑥 − 1)
≥0
(2𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1)
4𝑥 + 4 − 2𝑥 + 1
≥0
(2𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1)
2𝑥 + 5
≥0
(2𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1)
2𝑥 + 5 = 0 2𝑥 − 1 𝑥 + 1 = 0
2𝑥 = −5 2𝑥 − 1 = 0 𝑥 + 1 = 0
𝑥 = −5/2 𝑥 = 1/2 𝑥 = −1
The rational expression will be zero for 𝑥 = −5/2 and

undefined for 𝑥 = 1/2 and 𝑥 = −1 . Mark these on the number
line where 𝑥 = −5/2 is included while the others are not.
Construct a table of signs to determine the sign of the
function in each interval determined by the values
above.
• The solution set of the inequality is given by
{𝑥 ∈ 𝑅| − 5/2 ≤ 𝑥 < −1 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 > 1/2}
Exercises

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Lesson 6: Solving Rational

Equations and Inequalities

Robert Jun V. Jovita

 Eliminate denominators by multiplying each term of

The solutions are x=2 and x=3

 (a) Rewrite the inequality as a single rational

The rational expression will be zero for 𝑥 = −5/2 and

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