Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions

Advanced Math Topics

Mrs. Mongold

Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions

Finding Least Common Multiples and Least Common Denominators!– Use prime factorization

– Example: Find the LCM of 6 and 4 6 = 2·3 4 = 22

LCM= 22·3 = 12

Find the LCM

1. a2 – 6a + 9 and a2 + a -12

Find the LCM

2. 18r2s5, 24r3st2, and 15s3t

Find the LCM

3. 12a2b4, 27ac3, and 18a5b2c

Find the LCM

4. 15a2bc3, 16b5c2, 20a3c6

Find the LCM

5. p3 + 5p2 + 6p and p2 + 6p + 9

Find the LCM

6. q2 – 4q + 4 and q3 – 3q2 + 2q

Find the LCM

7. 2k3 – 5k2 – 12l and k3 – 8k2 +16k

Find the LCM

8. x3-x2 – 2x and x2 – 4x + 4

Find the LCM

9. 6m3n5, 42mnp2, 36m3n4p

Add and Subtract Rational Expressions

Same as fractions…– To add two fractions we find the LCD, the same

things is going to happen with rational expressions

Examples

10. Simplify

xy

y

y

x

1815

72

Examples

11. Simplify27

1

9

8

abb

a

Examples

12. Simplify

y

x

xy 5

3

3

2

Examples

13. Simplify

22

1

8

1

mnnm

Examples

14. Simplify

ab

d

b

c

3

2

7

62

Examples

15. Simplify

82

4

164

12

w

w

w

w

Examples

16. Simplify

62

6

186

6

x

x

x

x

Examples

17. Simplify

2012

1

583

12

x

x

xx

x

Examples

18. Simplify

x

yx1

1

11

Examples

19. Simplify

xy

xy11

11

Examples

20. Simplify

ab

ba

1

1

Examples

21. Simplify

6

3x

x

xx

Examples

22. Simplify

xx

x1

11

Examples

23. Simplify

xx

x4

42

Examples

24. Simplify

8

2x

x

xx