Chapter 6

Rational
Expressions and
Equations
 MULTIPLYING AND SIMPLIFYING
6. RATIONAL EXPRESSIONS

a. 1
Find all numbers for which a rational expression is
not defined.
b. Multiply a rational expression by 1, using an
expression such as A/A.
c. Simplify rational expressions by factoring the
numerator and the denominator and removing
factors of 1.
d. Multiply rational expressions and simplify.
Rational Expression
A rational expression is any expression that can be written as a
quotient of two polynomials.

Examples of rational expressions:

8 6 x 2  3x  8 1
, , , 3y  8 
11 x 5 2
8x  9 y
Rational expressions are examples of algebraic fractions. They
are also examples of fractional expressions. Because rational
expressions indicate division, we must be careful to avoid
denominators that are 0.
 Example

Find all numbers for which the rational expression

x 3 is undefined.
2
x  3 x  28

x2  3x  28 = 0
(x  7)(x + 4) = 0 Factoring
x  7 = 0 or x + 4 = 0 Using the principle of zero products

x = 7 or x = 4 Solving each equation

Multiplying Rational Expressions
To multiply rational expressions, multiply
numerators and multiply denominators:
A C AC
  .
B D BD

Copyright © 2015, 2011, and 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 5

 Example
2
Simplify: a) 3 x  12 b) 8a  28a
2
5 x  20 4 a  12a
2
c) x  2 x  15
2
x 9
Solution a) 3 x  12  3( x  4)
5 x  20 5( x  4)
3 x 4
 
5 x 4
3 3
 1 
5 5
continued
b) 8a 2  28a c) x 2  2 x  15
4a 2  12a x2  9
8a 2  28a 4a(2a  7) x 2  2 x  15 ( x  3)( x  5)
2
 
4a  12a 4a (a  3) 2
x 9 ( x  3)( x  3)
4a 2a  7 x  3 x 5
   
4a a  3 x  3 x 3
2a  7 x 5
1  1
a 3 x 3
2a  7 x 5
 
a 3 x 3
Copyright © 2015, 2011, and 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 7
 Example
2
Simplify: 2 y  y 6
2
.
y  2y  8
Solution
We factor the numerator and denominator and
look for common factors:
2 y 2  y  6 ( y  2)(2 y  3)
2

y  2 y  8 ( y  2)( y  4)
( y  2) (2 y  3)

( y  2) ( y  4)
2y 3

y 4
Factors that are Opposites
x 3
Example Simplify: .
6  2x
x 3 x 3
Solution  Factoring
6  2 x 2(3  x)
x 3
 Note that 3  x = x + 3 = 1(x  3)
2( 1)( x  3)
x 3
 Had we originally factored out 2, we
 2( x  3) could have gone directly to this step.

1 x 3
  Rewriting as a product. It is important
to write the 1 in the numerator.
2 x 3
1
 Removing a factor equal to 1.
2
 Example

Multiply and, if possible, simplify.

4 2
a) 6a 5 b) x  5 x  4 x  3
 2

10 6a x 9 x4
Solution
a) 6a 4 5 6a 4 (5)
 
10 6a 10(6a)
2 3 a a a a 5

2 5 2 3 a
2 3 a a a a 5 a 3
 
2 5 2 3 a 2
continued
x2  5x  4 x  3
b) 2

x 9 x4
x 2  5 x  4 x  3 ( x 2  5 x  4)( x  3)
2
  2
x 9 x4 ( x  9)( x  4)
( x  4)( x  1)( x  3)

( x  3)( x  3)( x  4)
( x  4)( x  1)( x  3)

( x  3)( x  3)( x  4)
x 1

x 3
 Example
x 2  x  20 7
Multiply and simplify.  2
21 3 x  11x  4
Solution
x 2  x  20 7 x 2  x  20(7)
 2 
21 3 x  11x  4 21(3 x 2  11x  4)
( x  4)( x  5)7

7(3)(3 x  1)( x  4)
( x  4)( x  5)7

7(3)(3 x  1)( x  4)
( x  5)

3(3 x  1)
6. DIVISION AND RECIPROCALS

2 a. Find the reciprocal of a rational expression.

b. Divide rational expressions and simplify.
Two expressions are reciprocals of each other if their
product is 1.

3 4
The reciprocal of is .
4 3

3 x 2
 1 x 4
The reciprocal of is 2
.
x 4 3x 1
Dividing Rational Expressions
To divide by a rational expression, multiply
by its reciprocal:
A C A D AD
    .
B D B C BC
Then factor and, if possible, simplify.

Copyright © 2015, 2011, and 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 15

 Example

Divide: a) x 8 b) x  3  x  2
9 y x 5
Solution
a) x 8  x y Multiplying by the reciprocal of the divisor
9 y 9 8
xy
 Multiplying rational expressions
72

b) x  2 x 3 x 5
x 3  
x 5 1 x 2
( x  3)( x  5)

x 2
 Example
x2 x2
Divide and, if possible, simplify: 2  2
x  4 x  4x  4
Solution
x2 x2 x  2 x2  4x  4
2
 2  2 
x  4 x  4x  4 x  4 x2
( x  2)( x  2)( x  2)

( x  2)( x  2)( x  2)
( x  2) ( x  2) ( x  2)

( x  2) ( x  2) ( x  2)
x 2

x2
 Example
x 2  3x  2 x2  5x  6
Divide and, if possible, simplify: x 2  5 x  4 x 2  10 x  24
Solution
x 2  3x  2 x2  5x  6 x 2  3 x  2 x 2  10 x  24
2
 2  2  2
x  5 x  4 x  10 x  24 x  5 x  4 x  5 x  6
( x  1)( x  2)( x  6)( x  4)

( x  4)( x  1)( x  2)( x  3)
( x  1) ( x  2) ( x  6) ( x  4)

( x  4) ( x  1) ( x  2) ( x  3)
( x  6)

( x  3)
 Example
x 2  3x  4 x  1
Divide and, if possible, simplify: 2

x  25 x 6
Solution
x 2  3x  4 x  1 x 2  3x  4 x  6
2
  2 
x  25 x 6 x  25 x  1
( x  4)( x  1)( x  6)

( x  5)( x  5)( x  1)
( x  4) ( x  1) ( x  6)

( x  5)( x  5) ( x  1)
( x  4)( x  6)

( x  5)( x  5)
 LEAST COMMON MULTIPLES
6. AND DENOMINATORS

3 a. Find the LCM of several numbers by

factoring.
b. Add fractions, first finding the LCD.
c. Find the LCM of algebraic expressions by
factoring.
Least Common Multiples
To add when denominators are different, we first find a
common denominator.

To find the LCM of 12 and 30, we factor:

12 = 2  2  3
30 = 2  3  5
The LCM is the number that has 2 as a factor twice, 3
as a factor once, and 5 as a factor once:
LCM = 2  2  3  5 = 60
 Example

Find the LCM of 48 and 54.

Solution

48 = 2  2  2  2  3
LCM = 2  2  2  2  3  3
3
54 = 2  3  3  3
or 432
 Example

Find the LCM of 6x2 and 4x3.

Solution
6x2 = 2  3  x  x
4x3 = 2  2  x  x  x

LCM = 2  2  3  x  x  x

The LCM = 22  3  x3, or 12x3.

 Example
For each group of polynomials, find the least common
multiple.
a) 15x, 30y, 25xyz b) x2 + 3, x + 2, 7
Solution
a) 15x = 3  5  x
30y = 2  3  5  y
25xyz = 5  5  x  y  z
LCM = 2  3  5  5  x  y  z
The LCM is 2  3  52  x  y  z or 150xyz.
b) Since x2 + 3, x + 2, and 7 are not factorable, the
LCM is their product: 7(x2 + 3)(x + 2).
6. ADDING RATIONAL EXPRESSIONS

4 a. Add rational expressions.

 Example
Add. Simplify the result, if possible.
5 6  w 4 x 3x  2
a)  b) 
w w x 7 x 7
c) 3 x 2
 4 x  9 x 2
x 3 x 9
d) 3
 2

3x  1 3x  1 x  36 x 2  36
Solution
a) 5 6  w 11  w The denominators are alike, so we add
  the numerators
w w w

4 x 3x  2 7 x  2 The denominators are alike, so we add

b)   the numerators
x 7 x 7 x 7
continued
2 2 2 2
c) 3 x  4 x  9 x  x  3 (3 x  4 x  9)  ( x  x  3)
 
3x  1 3x  1 3x  1
4 x 2  5 x  12 Combining like

3x  1 terms

d) x  9  3  x  6
Combining like terms in
x 2  36 x 2  36 x 2  36 the numerator
x 6
 Factoring
( x  6)( x  6)
1 ( x  6) 1
 
( x  6) ( x  6) x 6
 4 x2 5x
Example 
9 12

Solution
First, we find the LCD:
9=33
LCD = 2  2  3  3 = 36
12 = 2  2  3
Multiply each expression by the appropriate
number to get the LCD.
4 x2 5x 4 x2 5x
  
9 12 3 3 2 2 3
4x2 4 5 x 3 16 x 2 15 x
     
3 3 4 2 2 3 3 36 36
continued
3. Next we add the numerators:
16 x 2 15 x 16 x 2  15 x
  
36 36 36
4. Since 16x2 + 15x and 36 have no common factor,
16 x 2  15 x cannot be simplified any further.
36
 3a 2
Example 2
 2
a  4 a  2a

Solution First, we find the LCD:

a2  4 = (a  2)(a + 2)
LCD = a(a  2)(a + 2)
a  2a = a(a  2)
2

We multiply by a form of 1 to get the LCD in each

expression:
3a 2 3a a 2 a2
2
 2    
a  4 a  2a (a  2)(a  2) a a (a  2) a  2
continued
3a 2 3a a 2 a2
2
 2    
a  4 a  2a (a  2)(a  2) a a (a  2) a  2

3a 2 2a  4
 
a (a  2)(a  2) a (a  2)(a  2)

3a 2  2a  4

a (a  2)(a  2)

3a2 + 2a + 4 will not factor so we are done.

 x 1 4
 2
Example 2
x  4 x  4 x  3 x  10

x 1 4 x 1 4
2
 2  
x  4 x  4 x  3 x  10 ( x  2)( x  2) ( x  2)( x  5)
x 1 x 5 4 x 2
   
( x  2)( x  2) x  5 ( x  2)( x  5) x  2
x2  6x  5 4x  8
 
( x  2)( x  2)( x  5) ( x  2)( x  2)( x  5)

x2  6x  5  4x  8
 Adding numerators
( x  2)( x  2)( x  5)
x 2  10 x  3

( x  2)( x  2)( x  5)
 Example y 4

Add: 3 3
Solution
y 4 y 4 1
    Multiplying by 1 using 1/1
3 3 3 3 1
y 4
  The denominators are now the
3 3 same.

y  ( 4)

3
y 4

3
 Example 5x 2

Add: x  3 3 x

Solution
5x 2 5x 2 1
   
x  3 3 x x  3 3 x  1
5x 2
 
x  3  3 x
5x 2  3 + x = x + (3) = x  3
 
x 3 x 3
5x  2

x 3
 x 5
Example 2

x  36 6  x
Add:

Solution
x 5 x 5
2
  
x  36 6  x ( x  6)( x  6) 6  x
x 5 1
  
( x  6)( x  6) 6  x  1
x 5
 
( x  6)( x  6) x  6
x  5 x 6
  
( x  6)( x  6) x  6 x  6
continued
x  5 x 6
  
( x  6)( x  6) x  6 x  6

x  5 x  30
 
( x  6)( x  6) ( x  6)( x  6)

x  5 x  30

( x  6)( x  6)

 4 x  30

( x  6)( x  6)
 SUBTRACTING RATIONAL
6. EXPRESSIONS

5 a. Subtract rational expressions.

b. Simplify combined additions and
subtractions of rational expressions.
 Example

Subtract and, if possible, simplify:

5x x 4

x 3 x 3
Solution
5x x  4 5 x  ( x  4) The parentheses are needed to make
  sure that we subtract both terms.
x 3 x 3 x 3
5x  x  4 Removing the parentheses and
 changing the signs (using the
x 3 distributive law)

4x  4
 Combining like terms
x 3
 Example x2 x 1

Subtract: x  4 x  6

Solution LCD = (x + 4)(x + 6).

We multiply by a form of 1 to get the LCD in each expression.

Then we subtract and try to simplify.

x 2 x  1 x 2 x 6 x  1 x 4
    
x 4 x 6 x 4 x 6 x 6 x 4

x 2  8 x  12 x 2  3x  4 Multiplying out
  numerators.
( x  4)( x  6) ( x  4)( x  6)
continued
x 2  8 x  12 x 2  3x  4
 
( x  4)( x  6) ( x  4)( x  6)
When subtracting a numerator
with more than one term,
x 2  8 x  12  ( x 2  3x  4)
 parentheses are important.
( x  4)( x  6)

x 2  8 x  12  x 2  3x  4 Removing parentheses and

 subtracting every term.
( x  4)( x  6)

5 x  16

( x  4)( x  6)
 5x 2
Example 
Subtract: x  3 3 x

Solution
5x 2 5x 2 1
   
x  3 3 x x  3 3 x  1
5x 2
 
x  3  3 x
5x 2
 
x 3 x 3
5x  2

x 3
 x 5
Example Subtract: 2

x  36 6  x

Solution
x 5 x 5
2
  
x  36 6  x ( x  6)( x  6) 6  x
x 5 1
  
( x  6)( x  6) 6  x  1
x 5
 
( x  6)( x  6) x  6
x  5 x 6
  
( x  6)( x  6) x  6 x  6
continued
x  5 x 6
  
( x  6)( x  6) x  6 x  6

x  5 x  30
 
( x  6)( x  6) ( x  6)( x  6)

x  5 x  30

( x  6)( x  6)

6 x  30

( x  6)( x  6)
 Example
Perform the indicated operations and simplify:
x  2 y 3x  3 y 2 x  y
 
y x x y x y
Solution LCD = x – y
x  2 y  1 3x  3 y 2 x  y
   
y x 1 x y x y
 x  2 y 3x  3 y 2 x  y  x  2 y  3x  3 y  2 x  y
   
x y x y x y x y
 x  2 y  (3x  3 y )  2 x  y  2x  4 y
 
x y x y
6. SOLVING RATIONAL EQUATIONS

7 a. Solve rational equations.

A rational, or fraction, equation is an equation
containing one or more rational expressions, often with
the variable in the denominator. Here are some
examples:

3 5 x 3 x2 2
  y   8 
4 7 4 y x 4 x 4
 x x 1
Example Solve:  
5 2 4

Solution
The LCM of 5, 2, and 4 is 20, so we multiply both sides by 20:
 x  x 1 Using the multiplication principle to
20   20    multiply both sides by the LCM.
 5  2 4 Parentheses are important!

x x 1 Using the distributive law. Be sure

20  20   20  to multiply EACH term by the
5 2 4 LCM.
4 x 10 x  5
Simplifying and solving for x. If
 6 x  5 fractions remain, we have either
5 made a mistake or have not used
x the LCM of the denominators.
6
 1 1 4
Example Solve:  
3 x x 15

Solution
The LCM is 15x.
 1 1 4
15 x    15 x 
 3x x  15

5 1 1 4
15x   15 x   15 x 
3x x 15
5  15 4x
20 4x
5 x
 12
ExampleSolve: x  7
x

The LCM is x.
 12 
x  x    x(7)
 x
12
x x  x  7 x
x
x 2  12 7 x
2
x  7 x  12 0
( x  3)( x  4) 0
( x  3) 0 or ( x  4) 0
x = 3 or x=4
 5 3 2
ExampleSolve: 2
 
y  9 y 3 y  3

Note that y cannot equal 3 or 3. We multiply both

sides of the equation by the LCM.
 5   3 2 
( y  3)( y  3)   ( y  3)( y  3)   
 ( y  3)( y  3)   y  3 y  3 
( y  3 )( y  3 )5 ( y  3 )( y  3)3 ( y  3)( y  3 )2
 
( y  3 )( y  3 ) y 3 y 3
5 3( y  3)  2( y  3)
5 3 y  9  2 y  6
5  y  15
20  y
 2 5 4
ExampleSolve:   2
x  1 x 1 x  1

Note that x cannot equal 1 or 1. Multiply both sides of

the equation by the LCD.
 2 5  4
( x  1)( x  1)    ( x  1)( x  1)
 x  1 x 1  ( x  1)( x  1)
2( x  1)  5( x  1) 4
2 x  2  5 x  5 4
 3 x  7 4
Because of the restriction
above, 1 must be rejected as
 3 x  3 a solution. This equation has
no solution.
x 1
 APPLICATIONS USING RATIONAL
6. EQUATIONS AND PROPORTIONS

8 a. Solve applied problems using

rational equations.
b. Solve proportion problems.
 Example
Rayanne drives 20 mph faster than her mother,
Catherine. In the same time that Rayanne travels 360
mi, her mother travels 240 mi. Find their speeds.

1. Familiarize.
Make a drawing. Let r + 20 = speed of Rayanne.
Then r = speed of Catherine

240 miles 360 miles

r r + 20
continued
Distance = Rate  Time
Distance (in Speed (in miles Time
miles) per hour) (in hours)
Rayanne 360 r + 20
mother 240 r

2. Translate. Fill in the blank column in the table.

time = distance/rate.
Distance (in Speed (in miles Time
miles) per hour) (in hours)
Rayanne 360 r + 20 360 = (r + 20)t
mother 240 r 240 = rt
continued 360
t
r  20 240 360
360 = (r + 20)t t 
240 r r  20
240 = rt t
r
3. Solve. To solve the equation, we first multiply both
sides by the LCM of the denominators
r(r + 20).
240 360
r (r  20)  r (r  20) 
r r  20
240(r  20) 360r Simplifying
240r  4800 360r Using the distributive law

4800 120r Subtracting 24r from both sides

40 r Dividing both sides by 120
continued
Now we have a possible solution.
Catherine, her mother travels at 40 mph
Rayanne, r + 20 or 60 mph
240 240 360 360
4. Check. t   6 t  6
r 40 r  20 60

5. State. Rayanne is traveling at 60 mph and her mother is

traveling at 40 mph.
 Example

A sample of 186 hard drives contained 4 defective drives.

How many defective hard drives would you expect in a
sample of 1302?
Solution
Form a proportion in which the ratio of defective hard
drives is expressed in two ways.
defective drives 4 x defective drives

total drives 186 1302 total drives

186 x 5208
x 28
You would expect to find 28 defective hard drives.
 Example

Triangles ABC and XYZ are similar. Solve for b if

x = 8, y = 12 and a = 7.
Solution
We make a drawing, write a proportion, and then
solve. Note that side a is always opposite angle A, side
x is always opposite angle X, and so on.
Y

B x=8
a=7

A b C X Z
y = 12
continued
We set up our proportion:
b 7

12 8
7
b  12
8
84
b  or 10.5
8 Y

B x=8
a=7

A b C X Z
y = 12