Warm Up

1. Find the LCM of x, 2x2, and 6.

2. Find the LCM of p2 – 4p and p2 – 16.

Multiply. Simplify your answer.

3. 4.

5.
 Solving
Rational
Equations
 Solving Rational
Equations
ational Equation – an equation involving rational expressio
fractions…can always be written in the form:
f x 
0
g x 
here f (x) and g (x) are polynomial functions with no commo
actors. The zeros of f (x) are the solutions of the equation…
 Example 1: Solving Rational Equations by Using Cross Products

Solve . Check your answer.

Check
Use cross products.

5x = (x – 2)(3) Distribute 3 on the right

side.
5x = 3x – 6

2x = –6 Subtract 3x from both sides.

x = –3

–1 –1 
Example 2: Solving Rational Equations by Using Cross Products

Solve . Check your answer.

Check
Use cross products.

3n = (n + 4)(1) Distribute 1 on the right

side.
3n = n + 4 Subtract n from both sides.
2n = 4
Divide both sides by 2.
n=2

 Solving Rational
Equations
To solve an equation involving fractions:
• Find the LCD of all the terms in the equation.

Clear the fractions by multiplying both sides of the equation

by the LCD.

• Solve the resulting equation.

xtraneous Solutions – solutions that are not solutions of th

iginal equation; result from multiplying or dividing an equati
y an expression containing variables…
 Example 3: Solving Rational Equations by Using the LCD

Solve each equation. Check your answer.

Step 1 Find the LCD

2x(x + 1) Include every factor of the denominator.

Step 2 Multiply both sides by the LCD

Distribute on the
left side.
 Example 3 Continued

Step 3 Simplify and solve. Divide out common factors.

(2x)(2) +6(x +1) = 5(x +1) Simplify.

4x + 6x + 6 = 5x + 5 Distribute and multiply.

10x + 6 = 5x + 5 Combine like terms.

5x = –1 Subtract 5x and 6 from both

sides.

Divide both sides by 5.

 Example 3 Continued

Check Verify that

your solution is not
extraneous.


 Example 4: Solving Rational Equations by Using the LCD

Solve each equation. Check your answer.

Step 1 Find the LCD

(x2) Include every factor of the denominator.

Step 2 Multiply both sides by the LCD

Distribute on the
left side.
 Example 4 Continued

Step 3 Simplify and solve.

Divide out common

factors.

4x – 3 = x2 Simplify.

–x2 + 4x – 3 = 0 Subtract x2 from both sides.

x2 – 4x + 3 = 0 Multiply by – 1.

(x – 3)(x – 1) = 0 Factor.

x = 3, 1 Solve.
 Example 4 Continued

Check Verify that your solution is not extraneous.



 Example 5: Extraneous Solutions

Solve Identify any extraneous solutions.

Step 1 Solve.

2(x2 – 1) = (x + 1)(x – 6) Use cross products.

2x2 – 2 = x2 – 5x – 6 Distribute 2 on the left side. Multiply the

right side.
x2 + 5x + 4 = 0 Subtract x2 from both sides. Add 5x and
6 to both sides.
(x + 1)(x + 4) = 0 Factor the quadratic expression.

x = –1 or x = –4 Use the Zero Product Property.

Solve.
 Example 5 Continued

Solve Identify any extraneous solutions.

Step 2 Find extraneous solutions.

Because and

 are undefined –1 is
not a solution.

The only solution is – 4, so – 1 is an extraneous solution.
 Guided Practice
2x 1 2
Solve   2
x  1 x  3 x  4 x  3  x  1 x  3
First, factor the last denominator… The LCD!!!

 2x 1   2 
 x  1 x  3    x  1 x  3 2 
 x 1 x 3  x  4x  3 
2 x  x  3   x  1 2
2
2 x  5 x  3 0
 Guided Practice
2x 1 2
Solve   2
x  1 x  3 x  4x  3
2
Factor!!!2 x  5 x  3 0
2 x  1 x  3 0
Confirm Numerically
1
x  x 3 Support Graphically
2
Extraneous Solution
 Guided Practice
x 3 3 6
Solve   2 0 LCD: x x  2
x x  2 x  2x
Clear the fractions: x  3 x  2   3x  6 0
2
x  x  6  3 x  6 0
2
x  2 x 0
x  x  2  0
x 0,  2
 Guided Practice
x 3 3 6
Solve   2 0
x x  2 x  2x
Algebraic solutions:x 0,  2
Substituting either solution into the original equation
results in division by zero…
 Both solutions are extraneous!!!
 The original equation has no solution!!!
 Practice Problems

x 3 2 6
Solve   2
x x  3 x  3x
Clear fractions:  x  3   2 x 6
2

2
x  4 x  3 0
 x  1 x  3 0
x  1,  3 Extraneous
 Practice Problems

Solve 3x 5 15
  2
x 1 x  2 x  x  2
Clear fractions: 3 x  x  2   5  x  1 15
2
3 x  x  10 0
3x  5 x  2  0
5
x  , 2 Extraneous
3
 Guided Practice
Solution: Using the formula v=d/t, we derive the
formula for the time =d/v . Let v be a person’s
walking speed. Then v+10 is her speed on her
new bike. We can say that her walking time is
5/v and her biking time is 5/(v+10).

The equation now becomes

5/v+5/(v+10)=4/3
Guided Practice