Lesson 13: Rational Expressions & Addition and Subtraction of Rational Expressions & Multiplication and Division of Rational Expressions

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On this page you will find some material about Lesson 13. Read through the material below, watch the videos, and follow up with your instructor if you have questions.

Lesson 13: Rational Expressions & Addition and Subtraction of Rational Expressions & Multiplication and Division of Rational Expressions

Resources

In this section you will find some important information about the specific resources related to this lesson:

the learning outcomes,
the section in the textbook,
the WeBWorK homework sets,
a link to the pdf of the lesson notes,
a link to a video lesson.

Learning Outcomes.

Add and subtract rational expressions with like and unlike denominators.
Multiply and divide rational expressions.
Simplify rational expressions.

Topic. This lesson covers

Section 5.1: Rational Expressions,

Section 5.2: Multiplication and Division of Rational Expressions, and

Section 5.3: Addition and Subtraction of Rational Expressions.

WeBWorK. There are three WeBWorK assignments on today’s material:

ReducingRationalExpressions

AddRationalExpressions

AddRationalExpressions2

Lesson Notes.

Lesson 13 Notes – part 1 Download

Lesson 13 Notes – part 2 Download

Video Lesson.

Video Lesson 13 – part 1 (based on Lesson 13 Notes – part 1)

Video Lesson 13 – part 2 (based on Lesson 13 Notes – part 2)

Warmup Questions

These are questions on fundamental concepts that you need to know before you can embark on this lesson. Don’t skip them! Take your time to do them, and check your answer by clicking on the “Show Answer” tab.

Warmup Question 1

Subtract $\frac{1}{21} - \frac{3}{7} .$

Show Answer 1

Warmup Question 2

Divide

$\frac{6}{35} \div \frac{9}{14} .$

Show Answer 2

Warmup Question 3

Factor $x^{2} - 4 x - 21.$

Show Answer 3

Review

If you are not comfortable with the Warmup Questions, don’t give up! Click on the indicated lesson for a quick catchup. A brief review will help you boost your confidence to start the new lesson, and that’s perfectly fine.

Need a review? Check ???.

Quick Intro

This is like a mini-lesson with an overview of the main objects of study. It will often contain a list of key words, definitions and properties – all that is new in this lesson. We will use this opportunity to make connections with other concepts. It can be also used as a review of the lesson.

A Quick Intro to Rational Expressions & Addition and Subtraction of Rational Expressions & Multiplication and Division of Rational Expressions

Key Words. Rational Expression, numerator, denominator, simplifying/reducing, multiplication/division/addition/subtraction of rational expressions, LCD (least common denominator), like/unlike denominators, equivalent rational expressions

$★$ A rational expression is an expression of the form $\frac{p}{q}$ , where $p$ and $q$ are polynomials with $p \neq 0$ . In this case, $p$ is the numerator, and $q$ is the denominator.

$★$ The fraction $\frac{2}{6}$ (which is a rational expression!) can be simplified/reduced to $\frac{1}{3}$ , because both the numerator $2$ and the denominator $6$ are multiple of $2$ , so $2$ can be cancelled out:

$\frac{2}{6} = \frac{1 \cdot 2}{2 \cdot 3} = \frac{1}{3} .$

The same happens with rational expressions in general:

$\frac{p r}{q r} = \frac{p}{q} .$

This is the only rule that can be used to simplify/reduce rational expressions.

$★$ All the arithmetic operations with rational expressions are similar to the ones with fractions that you are already familiar with.

Multiplication: $\frac{p}{q} \cdot \frac{r}{s} = \frac{p r}{q s}$

Division: $\frac{p}{q} \div \frac{r}{s} = \frac{p}{q} \cdot \frac{s}{r} = \frac{p s}{q r}$

Addition and Subtraction with like denominators:

$\frac{p}{q} + \frac{r}{q} = \frac{p + r}{q}$

$\frac{p}{q} - \frac{r}{q} = \frac{p - r}{q}$

Addition and Subtraction with unlike denominators:

When the denominators are not the same, we need to factor them and find out what the LCD (least common denominator) is. Then multiply both numerator and the denominator so that the new denominators are all the same, namely, the LCD. The new rational expressions are equivalent to the original ones. Now we are in the case of like denominators.

Video Lesson

Many times the mini-lesson will not be enough for you to start working on the problems. You need to see someone explaining the material to you. In the video you will find a variety of examples, solved step-by-step – starting from a simple one to a more complex one. Feel free to play them as many times as you need. Pause, rewind, replay, stop… follow your pace!

Video Lesson – part 1

A video lesson on Reducing Rational Expressions [2:38]

A description of the video

In this video you will see the following rational expressions:

$\frac{40}{36}$
$\frac{32 x^{2} - 4 x y}{2 x y}$
$\frac{x^{2} - 4}{x^{2} + x - 6}$
$\frac{x - 1}{1 - x}$

Video Lesson – part 2

A video lesson on Multiplying, Dividing, Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions [12:47]

A description of the video

In this video you will see the following rational expressions:

$\frac{3}{35} \cdot \frac{21}{6}$
$\frac{7}{15} \div \frac{21}{6}$
$\frac{(x - 2)}{(x - 3) (x + 2)} \cdot \frac{(x + 1) (x - 3)}{(x - 2)}$
$\frac{x^{2} - 4}{x^{2} + x - 6} \div \frac{x - 2}{x^{2} + 5 x + 6}$
$\frac{2}{21} - \frac{9}{70}$
$\frac{x}{2 y} + \frac{5 y}{6 z}$
$\frac{1}{z - 3} - \frac{1}{z}$
$\frac{x}{x^{2} - 5 x + 6} - \frac{x - 1}{x^{2} - 4}$

Try Questions

Now that you have read the material and watched the video, it is your turn to put in practice what you have learned. We encourage you to try the Try Questions on your own. When you are done, click on the “Show answer” tab to see if you got the correct answer.

Try Question 1

Simplify $\frac{2 a - 4}{3 a - 6} .$

Show Answer 1

Try Question 2

Divide

$\frac{2}{2 x - 4} \div \frac{x - 2}{4 - x} .$

Show Answer 2

Try Question 3

Add $\frac{4}{2 x - 1} + \frac{2 - x}{1 - 2 x} .$

Show Answer 3

WeBWorK

You should now be ready to start working on the WeBWorK problems. Doing the homework is an essential part of learning. It will help you practice the lesson and reinforce your knowledge.

WeBWorK

It is time to do the homework on WeBWork:

ReducingRationalExpressions

AddRationalExpressions

AddRationalExpressions2

When you are done, come back to this page for the Exit Questions.

Exit Questions

After doing the WeBWorK problems, come back to this page. The Exit Questions include vocabulary checking and conceptual questions. Knowing the vocabulary accurately is important for us to communicate. You will also find one last problem. All these questions will give you an idea as to whether or not you have mastered the material. Remember: the “Show Answer” tab is there for you to check your work!

Exit Questions

What is the LCD?
When is the LCD used? Why?
Why can’t $\frac{x + 5}{x - 5}$ be simplified?

$★$ Simplify the expression $\frac{x - 1}{x^{2} + x - 6} - \frac{5}{3 x - 6} .$

Show Answer

Need more help?

Don’t wait too long to do the following.

Watch the additional video resources.

https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/mat1275covideolibrary-/adding-and-subtracting-rational-expressions/

Additional video resources on Addition and Subtraction of Rational Expressions

https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/mat1275covideolibrary-/multiplying-and-dividing-rational-expressions/

Additional video resources on Multiplication and Division of Rational Expressions

Talk to your instructor.
Form a study group.
Visit a tutor. For more information, check the tutoring page.

Lesson 13: Rational Expressions & Addition and Subtraction of Rational Expressions & Multiplication and Division of Rational Expressions

Resources

Warmup Questions

Warmup Question 1

Show Answer 1

Warmup Question 2

Show Answer 2

Warmup Question 3

Show Answer 3

Review

Quick Intro

Video Lesson

Try Questions

Try Question 1

Show Answer 1

Try Question 2

Show Answer 2

Try Question 3

Show Answer 3

WeBWorK

Exit Questions

Exit Questions

Show Answer

Need more help?

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The OpenLab at City Tech:A place to learn, work, and share

Support

Accessibility

Copyright

Creative Commons