Simplify Rational Algebraic Expressions In the previous section on polynomials, we divided a...

Simplify Rational Algebraic Expressions

In the previous section on polynomials, we divided a polynomial by a binomial using long division. In this section, we will use the factoring methods to simplify rational expressions.


In the previous section on polynomials, we divided a polynomial by a binomial using long division. In this section, we will use the factoring methods to simplify rational expressions.

A rational expression is simply a fraction that has polynomial expressions contained in the numerator and denominator…and the denominator can not equal zero


I started you off with a simple one to get us started…


STEP #1 : FACTOR all expressions completely



STEP # 2 : Look for COMMON FACTORS to “cancel”


WARNING !!!


WARNING !!!

You CAN NOT start by dividing individual terms to simplify…


WARNING !!!


WARNING !!!

So as a general rule, if you see + / - signs separating terms, you must factor to get common terms to simplify. You can only cancel multiplied terms.



Factors of 4 that add/subtract = - 3 are - 4 and + 1



Factors of 4 that add/subtract = - 3 are - 4 and + 1Factors of 4 that add/subtract = - 5 are - 4 and - 1



Factors of 4 that add/subtract = - 3 are - 4 and + 1Factors of 4 that add/subtract = - 5 are - 4 and - 1

STEP # 2 : Look for COMMON FACTORS to “cancel”



STEP # 2 : Look for COMMON TERMS to “cancel”

Simplify Rational Algebraic Expressions In the previous section on polynomials, we divided a...

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