Rational Expressions and Operations on

Rational Expressions

2021
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RATIONAL EXPRESSIONS

Definition 0.0.1 Let a, b be elements of R and b 6= 0. Division of a by b is

denoted by a ÷ b or ab . The expression ab is called a fraction.

Example 0.0.2 The expressions 51 , 7, − 56 and −18 are fractions.

Definition 0.0.3 Algebraic expressions of the form

n
d
where n and d are polynomials and d 6= 0, are called as rational algebraic
expressions or simply rational expressions.

7x−1
Example 0.0.4 2 is a rational expression provided that x 6= 1 and
x −1
x 6= −1.

Definition 0.0.5 A rational expression is said to be in lowest terms if

the numerator and denominator have no common factors other than 1 and
-1.

SIMPLIFICATION OF RATIONAL EXPRESSIONS

Definition 0.0.6 Simplification of rational expressions is the process

of reducing a given rational expression to its lowest terms.

Note that in reducing a rational expression to lowest terms, divide both the
terms of the rational expression by the greatest common factor of the terms.

Remark 0.0.7 The following procedure is useful when simplifying a

rational expression R(x).

• Factor completely the numerator and denominator of R(x).

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• Identify the common factors in the numerator and denominator and

cancel those factors. This is called multiplicative cancellation.

Illustration:
In the expression vw
uv
, when v 6= 0 and w 6= 0, the factor v is common to
both numerator and denominator. Thus,
uv u
= .
vw w

Example 0.0.8 Simplify the following rational expression.

14x−24−2x2
• x2 +x−20

Solution:
14x − 24 − 2x2 −2x2 + 14x − 24
=
x2 + x − 20 x2 + x − 20
−2(x2 − 7x + 12)
=
x2 + x − 20
−2(x − 3)(x − 4)
=
(x + 5)(x − 4)
−2(x − 3)
=
x+5

Example 0.0.9 Simplify the following rational expression.

y 2 −36
• y 3 −216

Solution:
y 2 − 36 (y + 6)(y − 6)
3
=
y − 216 (y − 6)(y 2 + 6y + 36)
y+6
= 2
y + 6y + 36
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Example 0.0.10 Simplify the following rational expression.

16m2 −1
• 16m2 −8m+1
Solution:
16m2 − 1 (4m + 1)(4m − 1)
=
16m2 − 8m + 1 (4m − 1)2
4m + 1
=
4m − 1

Example 0.0.11 Simplify the following rational expression.

• ax+ay−bx−by
am−bm−an+bn
Solution:
ax + ay − bx − by a(x + y) − b(x + y)
=
am − bm − an + bn m(a − b) − n(a − b)
(x + y)(a − b)
=
(a − b)(m − n)
x+y
=
m−n

OPERATIONS ON RATIONAL EXPRESSIONS

Multiplication of Rational Expressions

The product of two rational expressions is a rational expression whose

numerator is the product of the numerators of the given rational
expressions, and whose denominator is the product of the denominators of
the given rational expressions. In symbols,
a c ac
· =
b d bd
where b 6= 0 and d 6= 0.
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Remark 0.0.12 The process of multiplying rational expressions is

shortened by canceling factors common to both the numerator and
denominator.

Example 0.0.13 Find the product and simplify.

36xy 2 2
• 25wz 3
20x z
· 27y 2w2

Solution:
36xy 2 20x2 z 9 · 4xy 2 4 · 5x2 z
· = ·
25wz 3 27y 2 w2 52 wz 3 9 · 3y 2 w2
4x 4x2
= ·
5wz 2 3w2
16x3
=
15w3 z 2

Example 0.0.14 Find the product and simplify.

x2 −x−12
• 5x−5 · 3x−3
x2 −9

Solution:
x2 − x − 12 3x − 3 (x − 4)(x + 3) 3(x − 1)
· 2 = ·
5x − 5 x −9 5(x − 1) (x + 3)(x − 3)
3(x − 4)
=
5(x − 3)
3x − 12
=
5x − 15

Example 0.0.15 Find the product and simplify.

a2 −2ab+b2 2 +ab+b2
• a3 −b3
·a a−b
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Solution:

a2 − 2ab + b2 a2 + ab + b2 (a − b)2 a2 + ab + b2
· = ·
a3 − b 3 a−b (a − b)(a2 + ab + b2 ) a−b
=1

Division of Rational Expressions

The quotient of two rational expressions is obtained by multiplying the

dividend by the reciprocal of the divisor. In symbols,

a c a d ad
÷ = · =
b d b c bc

where b, c and d are not equal to 0.

Example 0.0.16 Find the quotient and simplify.

xy 3
• yz ÷ x2 z

Solution:

xy 3 xy 3 1
÷ x2 z = ·
yz yz x2 z
y2 1
= ·
z xz
y2
= 2
xz

Example 0.0.17 Find the quotient and simplify.

x2 +x 3
• y
x −x
÷ xy−y
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Solution:
x2 + x x3 − x x2 + x xy − y
÷ = · 3
y xy − y y x −x
x(x + 1) y(x − 1)
= ·
y x(x2 − 1)
(x + 1) (x − 1)
= ·
1 (x + 1)(x − 1)
=1

Example 0.0.18 Perform the indicated operation.

• ab+ac
ab−ac
b
· b+c b
÷ b−c
Solution:
ab + ac b b a(b + c) b b−c
· ÷ = · ·
ab − ac b + c b − c a(b − c) b + c b
=1

Example 0.0.19 Find the quotient and simplify.

a2 +2a−15
• a2 −25
20−4a
÷ a2−10a+25
Solution:
a2 + 2a − 15 20 − 4a a2 + 2a − 15 a2 − 10a + 25
÷ 2 = ·
a2 − 25 a − 10a + 25 a2 − 25 20 − 4a
(a + 5)(a − 3) (a − 5)2
= ·
(a − 5)(a + 5) 4(5 − a)
a−3 a−5
= ·
1 −4(a − 5)
a−3
=
−4
3−a
=
4
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Addition and Subtraction of Similar Rational Expressions

Definition 0.0.20 Recall that similar fractions are fractions whose

denominators are the same. Otherwise, they are dissimilar. The definition
of similar rational expressions is analogous to similar fractions.

In general, similar rational expressions have the same denominators.

5 −3c
Example 0.0.21 These three pairs of rational expressions ab and ab ,
3x−1 4−3y −2x 7x2 −x+1
x2 −y
and
x2 −y
, and
a2 +3a+9
and
a2 +3a+9
are examples of similar
rational expressions.

In adding and subtracting similar rational expressions, add or subtract the

numerators, then place the result over the common denominator.
In symbols,
a c a±c
± =
d d d
where d 6= 0.

Remark 0.0.22 The process of adding or subtracting rational expressions

is like the one used in arithmetic fractions. Only similar rational
expressions can be readily added or subtracted.

Addition and Subtraction of Dissimilar Rational Expressions

Note that when rational expressions are dissimilar, first obtain a common
denominator to make them similar. Although any common denominator
will do,using least common denominator (LCD) will help in saving time.

Definition 0.0.23 The least common denominator (LCD) of two or

more fractions is the least common multiple of the denominators of the
fractions.
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In finding the LCD, the following steps are suggested:

1. Write each denominator as a product of prime factors.

2. Get each factor that occurs in all the denominators. When the same
factor is present in more than one denominator, take the factor with
the highest exponent. The product of these factors is the LCD.

x+2 ,
1
Example 0.0.24 Find the LCD of the rational expressions
2x
x2 −4x+4
and
3(x2 −4)
−1
.

Solution: We write each denominator as a product of prime factors.

x+2=x+2
x − 4x + 4 = (x + 2)2
2

3(x2 − 4) = 3(x + 2)(x − 2)

The LCD is 3(x + 2)2 (x − 2).

In adding and subtracting rational expressions having
different denominators, here is the procedure:

1. Factor each denominator completely.

2. Find the LCD.

3. For each fraction, divide the LCD by the denominator and

multiply the quotient by the numerator.

4. Write the single fraction with the sum of the results obtain
in step (3) in the numerator and the LCD in the
denominator. Simplify the answer.
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Example 0.0.25 Find the sum or difference, and simplify.

• 5
a2 −4
4
− a2+4a+4

Solution:

5 4 5 4
− = −
a2 − 4 a2 + 4a + 4 (a − 2)(a + 2) (a + 2)2
5(a + 2) 4(a − 2)
= −
(a − 2)(a + 2)2 (a − 2)(a + 2)2
(5a + 10) − (4a − 8)
=
(a − 2)(a + 2)2
a + 18
=
(a − 2)(a + 2)2

Example 0.0.26 Find the sum or difference, and simplify this

expression.

• 2x−1
4−x
x+2
+ 3x−12
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Solution:

2x − 1 x+2 2x − 1 x+2
+ = +
4−x 3x − 12 −(x − 4) 3(x − 4)
−(2x − 1) x+2
= +
x−4 3(x − 4)
1 − 2x x+2
= +
x−4 3(x − 4)
3(1 − 2x) + x + 2
=
3(x − 4)
3 − 6x + x + 2
=
3(x − 4)
5 − 5x
=
3(x − 4)

Example 0.0.27 Find the sum or difference, and simplify.

2
• 1
b−3
−54
+ 3bb3−27 3b
− b2+3b+9
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Solution:
1 3b2 − 54 3b
+ 3 − 2
b−3 b − 27 b + 3b + 9
2
1 3b − 54 3b
= + −
b − 3 (b − 3)(b2 + 3b + 9) b2 + 3b + 9
(b2 + 3b + 9) + (3b2 − 54) − 3b(b − 3)
=
(b − 3)(b2 + 3b + 9)
b2 + 3b + 9 + 3b2 − 54 − 3b2 + 9b
=
(b − 3)(b2 + 3b + 9)
b2 + 12b − 45
=
(b − 3)(b2 + 3b + 9)
(b + 15)(b − 3)
=
(b − 3)(b2 + 3b + 9)
b + 15
= 2
b + 3b + 9
COMPLEX FRACTIONS

Definition 0.0.28 A complex fraction is a fraction

containing one or more fractions in either the numerator or the
denominator, or in both.

To simplify complex fractions:

Reduce the numerator, or denominator, or both to a simple
fraction and then divide out the resulting fractions.

Example 0.0.29 Simplify the following expression.

2 5
x+y
• 2 5
x−y
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Solution:
2 5 2y+5x
x + y xy
2 5 = 2y−5x
x − y xy
2y + 5x xy
= ·
xy 2y − 5x
2y + 5x
=
2y − 5x

Example 0.0.30 Simplify the following expression.

a + b2
• b a2
b −1+1
a2 a b

Solution:
a b2 a·a2 +b2 ·b
b + a2 a2 b
b
= b·b−1·ab+a2
a2 − a1 + 1
b a2 b
a +b3
3

a2 b
= b −ab+a2
2
a2 b
3 3
a +b a2 b
= · 2
a2 b b − ab + a2
(a + b)(a2 − ab + b2 )
=
a2 − ab + b2
=a+b

Example 0.0.31 Simplify the following expression.

• 1−
w
1
1
1+ w−1
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Solution:
w w w
1 = 1 =
1− 1
1+ w−1
1− w−1+1 1 − w1
w−1 w−1
w
=
1 − 1 · w−1
w
w
=
1 − w−1
w
w
= w−(w−1)
w
w
= 1
w
w
=w·
1
= w2